System and method for accumulation and maintenance of money in a vehicle maintenance savings account

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for accumulating and maintaining funds (e.g., money, a money proxy or a combination thereof) in a vehicle maintenance savings account. The account funds may be used to pay for the costs of maintaining and/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs of maintenance and operation associated with ownership, leasing or renting a vehicle) and/or driver safety. For instance, the balance of the account may be used to pay for driver&#39;s education, driver&#39;s safety courses, attention improvement/maintenance courses, visual acuity improvement/maintenance courses, vehicle maintenance, repair, inspections, registration, check-ups, replacement parts, emissions testing, government stickers, taxes, license plates, insurance premiums, insurance deductibles, safety products, sensors/monitors, disposal fees, new vehicles of a certain type, etc. The vehicle maintenance savings account system may collect and analyze user data, and may accumulate funds for the user when the user engages in certain user behaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.).

BACKGROUND

Vehicle maintenance and repair can be extremely expensive. Often,drivers forego costly, but necessary, maintenance and repairs due tolack of funds. By doing such, the drivers expose others to the risksassociated with poorly maintained, unsafe vehicles.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of various aspects describedherein. This summary is not an extensive overview, and is not intendedto identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope of theclaims. The following summary merely presents some concepts in asimplified form as an introductory prelude to the more detaileddescription provided below.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward methods,computer-readable media, software, systems and apparatuses that providea vehicle maintenance savings account system for accumulation andmaintenance of funds (e.g., money, a money proxy or a combinationthereof), safe driving points and/or rewards that may be used to pay forthe costs of maintaining and/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs ofmaintenance and operation associated with ownership, leasing or rentinga vehicle) and/or driver safety. For instance, a balance of the accountmay be used to pay for driver's education, driver's safety courses,attention improvement/maintenance courses, visual acuityimprovement/maintenance courses, vehicle maintenance, repair,inspections, registration, check-ups, replacement parts, emissionstesting, government stickers, taxes, license plates, insurance premiums,insurance deductibles, safety products, sensors/monitors, disposal fees,new vehicles of a certain type, etc. The vehicle maintenance savingsaccount system may collect and analyze user data, and may accumulatefunds for the user when the user engages in certain user behaviors(e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.). The vehicle maintenance savings account system mayallow the user to both spend and transfer the vehicle maintenancesavings account balance to other individuals. Subject to any applicableregulations, users may be provided rebates and/or account funds forengaging in certain user behaviors. The user may be an insurancecustomer or non-insurance customer, driver or non-driver.

The balance of the vehicle maintenance savings account may be increasedvia various avenues. According to certain aspects, a user maypre-designate a monthly and/or periodic amount that will be withdrawnfrom a bank account of the user (e.g., checking and/or savings account,money market account, etc.) and placed into the vehicle maintenancesavings account. In some aspects, such monthly and/or periodic amount ispaid simultaneously with an insurance premium payment and placed intothe vehicle maintenance savings account. Additionally or alternatively,a user may elect to have a portion of a pay check or other regulardeposit directed to the vehicle maintenance savings account.

In addition or in the alternative to user designations, the accountbalance may grow or increase via employer designations, insurancecompany designations, family/friend designations, and/or transfers fromanother user's vehicle maintenance savings account. In certainembodiments, the account manager designates funds to the vehiclemaintenance savings account based on certain user behavior (e.g., theuser's use of safety programs, use of particular authorized, certifiedor preferred services, shops or providers, referral of friends/family,use of social media to recommend the vehicle maintenance savings accountprogram, safe driving, accumulation of good driver rewards checks, useof safe driver/vehicle data mobile applications, purchase of particularinsurance products, use of particular insurance programs/services,purchase of particular safety products, purchase of fuel at a particularstation, participation in a rewards program of a particular fuel/oilstation/company, carpooling, being a passenger (e.g., not driving),using public transportation, renewing insurance, using the vehiclemaintenance savings account during a particular time period, joining avehicle maintenance savings account funds pool, adding additionalvehicles to the account, providing information regarding vehicle repairor maintenance even when a warranty covers the cost, participating in aprogram that allows for provider/service recommendations to be providedto the user, maintaining/meeting a regular schedule of maintenance,driving a certain number of miles, purchasing another type of insurancepolicy, using a program or mobile application to book vehicle repair andmaintenance appointments, being claim free and accident free for aparticular period of time, etc.).

In certain aspects, the balance of the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount includes pre-tax funds. In other aspects, the balance of theaccount may be used to pay for tax-deductible costs of meeting certainsafety and environmental standards.

According to various aspects, the account balance may accumulateinterest. In certain aspects, the account balance may accumulateinterest at a guaranteed interest rate above a prime interest rate(e.g., 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, etc.). The account balance,including interest earned, may roll over annually.

The vehicle maintenance savings account may be managed by an insurancecompany or an external non-insurance hosting entity (e.g., a bank,original equipment manufacturer (OEM), car dealership, etc.). In certainaspects, the account may achieve a negative balance, essentiallyallowing the manager of the account or entity hosting or facilitatingthe account to provide a loan to the user for costs of maintainingand/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs of maintenance and operationassociated with ownership, leasing or renting a vehicle) and driversafety. In some instances, the user may cash-out all funds personallydesignated and interest on such, but the manager of the account mayretain all other funds if unused. In other aspects, the user maycash-out all monetary funds and interest on such, but the manager of theaccount may retain all non-monetary funds (e.g., money proxy). Accordingto certain embodiments, the manager of the account is an insurancecompany, the user does not have an insurance policy with the insurancecompany, and the insurance company processes payments to the insurancecompany of the user using the vehicle maintenance savings account of theuser.

Vehicle maintenance and safe driving behaviors may be encouraged viavarious benefits associated with the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount. In some embodiments, the user may receive a discount on safetyprograms, maintenance, repairs, particular insurance products, certaininsurance programs/services, particular safety products, fuel at aparticular station, or the like if the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount is used to pay for such. In other aspects, funds and/or a rebatemay be deposited into the vehicle maintenance savings account based oncertain user behaviors. In certain embodiments, if the account is usedto pay for preferred, certified or approved products or services, thefunds and/or rebate may be multiplied (multiplied funds may beconsidered, for example, “Superdollars”) before being deposited into theaccount.

The manager of the vehicle maintenance savings account may use theaccount and the user's use of such to gather data. For instance, aninsurance company may use information gained from a user's particularuse of the account to determine insurance rating factors, calculatedriver scores, set insurance premiums, and the like.

The details of these and other aspects of the disclosure are set forthin the accompanying drawings and description below. Other features andadvantages of aspects of the disclosure will be apparent from thedescription and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way oflimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Aspects of thedisclosure may be implemented in certain parts, steps, and embodimentsthat will be described in detail in the following description andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like referencenumerals indicate similar elements. It will be appreciated with thebenefit of this disclosure that the steps illustrated in theaccompanying figures may be performed in other than the recited orderand that one or more of the steps may be optional. It will also beappreciated with the benefit of this disclosure that one or morecomponents illustrated in the accompanying figures may be positioned inother than the disclosed arrangement and that one or more of thecomponents illustrated may be optional.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment in which a vehicle maintenancesavings account system may be implemented according to one or moreaspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating various components and devicesassociated with an example vehicle maintenance savings accountacquisition system, according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of an implementation of avehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system according to oneor more aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example method of analyzing user data andproviding account funds, safe driving points and/or rewards based on theuser data according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example method of calculating and providingsafe driving points to according to one or more aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example method of calculating and providingvehicle maintenance savings account funds according to one or moreaspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example method of determining a safe drivingreward based on safe driving points according to one or more aspects ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example method of determining Superdollarsbased on vehicle maintenance savings account funds according to one ormore aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method of redeeming and processingvehicle maintenance savings account funds and/or a safe driving rewardaccording to one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a vehicle maintenance savings account cardaccording to one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example method of a user opening a vehiclemaintenance savings account, depositing funds into the account and usingthe funds according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating various components associatedwith an example vehicle maintenance savings account, according to one ormore aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the various embodiments, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and inwhich is shown by way of illustration, various embodiments of thedisclosure that may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used hereinare for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. Rather, the phrases and terms used herein are to be giventheir broadest interpretation and meaning. The use of “including” and“comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the itemslisted thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as additional itemsand equivalents thereof. As used in this description, a set refers to acollection of one or more elements. A user, as used in this description,refers to an individual, group of individuals, or a vehicle. In certainembodiments, a family, group of friends or co-workers, or other groupthat shares one or more vehicles may have a single vehicle maintenancesavings account that is shared by the group. In one or more variations,a vehicle may have an associated vehicle maintenance savings accountthat is based on one or more primary drivers of the vehicle and can beaffected by the behavior (e.g., safe driving behavior, purchasebehavior, account use behavior, etc.) of any of the vehicle's drivers.In other embodiments, a vehicle may be configured to identify differentdrivers, and each driver of the vehicle may have a separate vehiclemaintenance savings account. The user may or may not hold a fullyqualified driver's license, may or may not own/lease/rent a vehicle, andmay or may not hold an insurance policy.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon reading thefollowing disclosure, various aspects described herein may be embodiedas a method, a computer system, or a computer program product.Accordingly, those aspects may take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combiningsoftware and hardware aspects. Furthermore, such aspects may take theform of a computer program product stored by one or morecomputer-readable storage media having computer-readable program code,or instructions, embodied in or on the storage media. Any suitablecomputer readable storage media may be utilized, including hard disks,CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or anycombination thereof. In addition, various signals representing data orevents as described herein may be transferred between a source and adestination in the form of electromagnetic waves traveling throughsignal-conducting media such as metal wires, optical fibers, and/orwireless transmission media (e.g., air and/or space).

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward methods,computer-readable media, software, systems and apparatuses that providea vehicle maintenance savings account system for accumulation andmaintenance of funds (e.g., money, a money proxy or a combinationthereof), safe driving points and/or rewards that may be used to pay forthe costs of maintaining and/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs ofmaintenance and operation associated with ownership, leasing or rentinga vehicle) and/or driver safety. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustratingvarious components associated with an example vehicle maintenancesavings account (block 1200), according to one or more aspects of thedisclosure.

The balance of the vehicle maintenance savings account may be increasedvia various avenues. According to certain aspects, a user maypre-designate a monthly and/or periodic amount that will be withdrawnfrom a bank account of the user (e.g., checking and/or savings account,money market account, etc.) and placed into the vehicle maintenancesavings account (block 1201). In some aspects, such monthly and/orperiodic amount is paid simultaneously with an insurance premium paymentand placed into the vehicle maintenance savings account. Additionally oralternatively, a user may elect to have a portion of a pay check orother regular deposit directed to the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount.

In addition or in the alternative to user designations, the accountbalance may grow or increase via employer designations, insurancecompany designations, family/friend designations, and/or transfers fromanother user's vehicle maintenance savings account (block 1201). Incertain embodiments, the account manager designates funds to the vehiclemaintenance savings account based on certain user behavior (e.g., theuser's use of safety programs, use of particular authorized, certifiedor preferred services, shops or providers, referral of friends/family,use of social media to recommend the vehicle maintenance savings accountprogram, safe driving, accumulation of good driver rewards checks, useof safe driver/vehicle data mobile applications, purchase of particularinsurance products, use of particular insurance programs/services,purchase of particular safety products, purchase of fuel at a particularstation, participation in a rewards program of a particular fuel/oilstation/company, carpooling, being a passenger (e.g., not driving),using public transportation, renewing insurance, using the vehiclemaintenance savings account during a particular time period, joining avehicle maintenance savings account funds pool, adding additionalvehicles to the account, providing information regarding vehicle repairor maintenance even when a warranty covers the cost, participating in aprogram that allows for provider/service recommendations to be providedto the user, maintaining/meeting a regular schedule of maintenance,driving a certain number of miles, purchasing another type of insurancepolicy, using a program or mobile application to book vehicle repair andmaintenance appointments, being claim free and accident free for aparticular period of time, etc.). In some embodiments, telematics datashowing safe driving behaviors may earn safe driving points as discussedherein, and the safe driving points may be deposited in the vehiclemaintenance savings account (such that the account maintains funds, safedriving points or a combination thereof) or may be converted to funds(block 1202). Conversion of safe driving points to funds may include,for example, providing a user a certain amount of funds for a particularamount or range of safe driving points (e.g., $5 for 500 safe drivingpoints, $5 for 100-500 safe driving points, $0.01 for every safe drivingpoint, etc). In certain aspects, the safe driving points may earn safedriving rewards. Such rewards may be directly deposited into the accountor converted to funds and deposited into the account (block 1203).

In certain aspects, the balance of the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount includes pre-tax funds. In other aspects, the balance of theaccount may be used to pay for tax-deductible costs of meeting certainsafety and environmental standards.

According to various aspects, the account balance may accumulateinterest. In certain aspects, the account balance may accumulateinterest at a guaranteed interest rate above a prime interest rate(e.g., 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, etc.). The account balance,including interest earned, may roll over annually.

The vehicle maintenance savings account may be managed by an insurancecompany or an external non-insurance hosting entity (e.g., a bank,original equipment manufacturer (OEM), car dealership, etc.). In certainaspects, the account may achieve a negative balance, essentiallyallowing the manager of the account or entity hosting or facilitatingthe account to provide a loan to the user for costs of maintainingand/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs of maintenance and operationassociated with ownership, leasing or renting a vehicle) and driversafety. In some instances, the user may cash-out all funds personallydesignated and interest on such, but the manager of the account mayretain all other funds if unused. In other aspects, the user maycash-out all monetary funds and interest on such, but the manager of theaccount may retain all non-monetary funds (e.g., money proxy). Accordingto certain embodiments, the manager of the account is an insurancecompany, the user does not have an insurance policy with the insurancecompany, and the insurance company processes payments to the insurancecompany of the user using the vehicle maintenance savings account of theuser.

A balance of the account may be, for instance, used to pay for driver'seducation, driver's safety courses, attention improvement/maintenancecourses, visual acuity improvement/maintenance courses, vehiclemaintenance, repair, inspections, registration, check-ups, replacementparts, emissions testing, government stickers, taxes, license plates,insurance premiums, insurance deductibles, safety products,sensors/monitors, disposal fees, new vehicles of a certain type, etc.(block 1204). The vehicle maintenance savings account system may collectand analyze user data, and may accumulate funds for the user when theuser engages in certain user behaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors,purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.). The vehiclemaintenance savings account system may allow the user to both spend andtransfer the vehicle maintenance savings account balance to otherindividuals. Subject to any applicable regulations, users may beprovided rebates and/or account funds for engaging in certain userbehaviors. The user may be an insurance customer or non-insurancecustomer, driver or non-driver.

Vehicle maintenance and safe driving behaviors may be encouraged viavarious benefits associated with the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount. In some embodiments, the user may receive a discount on safetyprograms, maintenance, repairs, particular insurance products, certaininsurance programs/services, particular safety products, fuel at aparticular station, or the like if the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount is used to pay for such. In other aspects, funds and/or a rebatemay be deposited into the vehicle maintenance savings account based oncertain user behaviors. In certain embodiments, if the account is usedto pay for preferred, certified or approved products or services, thefunds and/or rebate may be multiplied (e.g., multiplied funds may beconsidered “Superdollars”) before being deposited into the account.

The manager of the vehicle maintenance savings account may use theaccount and the user's use of such to gather data. For instance, aninsurance company may use information gained from a user's particularuse of the account to determine insurance rating factors, calculatedriver scores, set insurance premiums, and the like.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle maintenance savingsaccount system 101 in a vehicle maintenance savings account acquisitionsystem 100 that may be used according to one or more illustrativeembodiments of the disclosure. The vehicle maintenance savings accountsystem 101 may have a processor 103 for controlling overall operation ofthe vehicle maintenance savings account system 101 and its associatedcomponents, including RAM 105, ROM 107, input/output unit 109, andmemory 115. The vehicle maintenance savings account system 101, alongwith one or more additional devices (e.g., terminals 141, 151) maycorrespond to one or more special-purpose computing devices, such asvehicle maintenance savings account computing devices or systems,configured as described herein for collecting and analyzing user data,allowing a user to set aside funds for costs associated with maintainingand/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs of maintenance and operationassociated with ownership, leasing or renting a vehicle) and driversafety, providing a user with funds for engaging in certain userbehaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.), multiplying funds (e.g., gaining Superdollars) forparticularly preferred behaviors, allowing the user to spend thedesignated funds, and allowing the user to transfer the funds to otherusers. User data may be used to determine whether the account managerdesignates funds to the account or multiplies funds already in theaccount (e.g., gains Superdollars). In certain embodiments, user datamay be vehicle telematics data including data received from one or moretelematics devices, vehicle sensors, or vehicle subsystems and thentransmitted to a system or device located remotely relative to thevehicle. Additionally or alternatively, user data may be user purchasedata including data received from one or more vehicle service devices orsubsystems, third-party devices or subsystems, and/or other devices orsubsystems associated with vehicle possession, operation andmaintenance, and then, optionally, transmitted to a system or devicelocated remotely relative to the transmitting device(s) or subsystem(s).Additionally or alternatively, user data may be account use dataincluding data received from one or more vehicle maintenance savingsaccount devices or subsystems, vehicle service devices or subsystems,third-party devices or subsystems, social media devices or subsystems,and/or other devices or subsystems associated with vehicle possession,operation and maintenance and then, optionally, transmitted to a systemor device located remotely relative to the transmitting device(s) orsubsystem(s); etc.). User data (e.g., vehicle telematics data, userpurchase data, account use data, etc.) may also include data receivedfrom a mobile computing device (e.g., mobile phone, portable computingdevice, or the like) or a third-party system (e.g., a third partytelematics system).

Input/Output (I/O) module 109 may include devices such as a microphone,keypad, touch screen, stylus or combination thereof through which a userof the vehicle maintenance savings account system 101 may provide input,and may also include one or more of a speaker for providing audio outputand a video display device for providing textual, audiovisual and/orgraphical output. Software may be stored within memory 115 and/orstorage to provide instructions to processor 103 for enabling vehiclemaintenance savings account system 101 to perform various functions. Forexample, memory 115 may store software used by the vehicle maintenancesavings account system 101, such as an operating system 117, applicationprograms 119, and an associated internal database 121. Processor 103 andits associated special-purpose computing devices may allow the vehiclemaintenance savings account acquisition system 100 to execute a seriesof computer-readable instructions to collect and analyze user data,allow a user to set aside funds for costs associated with maintainingand/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs of maintenance and operationassociated with ownership, leasing or renting a vehicle) and driversafety, provide a user with funds for engaging in certain user behaviors(e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.), multiply funds (e.g., gain Superdollars) forparticularly preferred behaviors, allow the user to spend the designatedfunds, and allow the user to transfer the funds to other users.

The vehicle maintenance savings account system 101 may operate in anetworked environment (e.g., vehicle maintenance savings accountacquisition system 100) supporting connections to one or more remotecomputers, such as terminals/devices 141 and 151. The vehiclemaintenance savings account system 101, and related terminals/devices141 and 151, may be in signal communication with special-purpose devicesinstalled in vehicles, special-purpose mobile special-purpose computingdevices that may travel within vehicles, or special-purpose devicesoutside of vehicles that may be configured to receive and processvehicle telematics data. Thus, terminals/devices 141 and 151 may eachinclude personal computers (e.g., laptop, desktop, tablet computer orthe like), servers (e.g., web servers, database servers, etc.),vehicle-based devices (e.g., on-board vehicle computers, short-rangevehicle communication systems, telematics devices or the like), ormobile communication devices (e.g., mobile phones, portable computingdevices, or the like), and may include some or all of the elementsdescribed above with respect to the vehicle maintenance savings accountsystem 101.

The network connections depicted in FIG. 1 include a local area network(LAN) 125 and a wide area network (WAN) 129, and a wirelesstelecommunications network 133, but may also include other networks.When used in a LAN networking environment, the vehicle maintenancesavings account system 101 may be connected to the LAN 125 through anetwork interface or adapter 123. When used in a WAN networkingenvironment, the vehicle maintenance savings account system 101 mayinclude a modem 127 or other means for establishing communications overthe WAN 129, such as network 131 (e.g., the Internet). When used in awireless telecommunications network 133, the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount system 101 may include one or more transceivers, digital signalprocessors, and additional circuitry and software for communicating withwireless computing devices 141 (e.g., mobile phones, short-range vehiclecommunication systems, vehicle telematics devices, etc.) via one or morenetwork devices 135 (e.g., base transceiver stations) in the wirelessnetwork 133.

It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areillustrative and other means of establishing a communications linkbetween the computers (e.g., terminals/devices 141 and 151) may be used.The existence of any of various network protocols such as TCP/IP,Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like, and of various wireless communicationtechnologies such as GSM, CDMA, WiFi, and WiMAX, is presumed, and thevarious computing devices described herein may be configured tocommunicate using any of these network protocols or technologies.

Additionally, one or more application programs 119 used by the vehiclemaintenance savings account system 101 may include computer executableinstructions (e.g., instructions for vehicle telematics data collectionand analysis programs, safe driving points calculation programs, accountfunds calculation programs, reward issuing programs, account fundsallocation and accumulation programs, account funds maintenanceprograms, reward redemption programs, account funds redemption programs,account funds transfer programs, and the like) for collecting andanalyzing vehicle telematics data associated with a vehicle, providingsafe driving points and/or account funds to a user, issuing rewardsbased on the safe driving points, allocating and accumulating accountfunds based on a user engaging in certain user behaviors (e.g., safedriving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.),maintaining account funds, allowing the user to redeem the rewardsand/or account funds, and allowing the user to transfer the safe drivingpoints and/or account funds to another user.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example implementation of a vehiclemaintenance savings account acquisition system 100. The system 100, inthis example, includes a vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202. The vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system202, described in further detail below, provides funds to a vehiclemaintenance savings account based on a user engaging in certain userbehaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.). In certain embodiments, the vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202 determines whether a user hasengaged in safe driving behaviors based on vehicle telematics data.Vehicle telematics data, as used in this description, refers to datareceived from sensors 210 and/or a telematics device 206 that provide anindication of how a user (e.g., driver) operates a vehicle with respectto, for example, accelerating, decelerating, braking, turning,signaling, lane usage, adequate vehicle spacing, speed, distractionmanagement, and other driving-related operations performed by the user.A vehicle telematics device may be installed at, attached to, or insignal communication with a vehicle or various systems or components ofthe vehicle.

The vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 maycontain some or all of the hardware/software components of the vehiclemaintenance savings account system 101 depicted in FIG. 1. The vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 is a special-purposecomputing device that is configured to receive vehicle driving data fromone or more vehicles 204, such that information may be received (i) fromtelematics devices installed at and/or attached to the vehicle, (ii)from telematics devices located in the vehicle during its operation(e.g., at a mobile special-purpose computing device), or (iii) fromspecial-purpose computing devices located remotely relative to thevehicle that receive the vehicle telematics data “from the vehicle” asdescribed in (i) or (ii). The vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 is also configured to send and receive data to andfrom a vehicle service system 242 (e.g., gas station and/or pump system,a towing facility and/or vehicle system, auto repair/maintenance shopsystem, auto dealership system, vehicle service department system,vehicle inspection system, vehicle emissions testing system, roadsideassistance system, vehicle parts supplier/retailer system, vehiclesafety product supplier/retailer system, vehicle sensor/monitorsupplier/retailer system, etc.), a third-party system 244 (e.g., aninsurance system, a fleet management system, a cash-register system, abanking system, a social media system, a driver's education system, aDepartment of Motor Vehicle (DMV) system, a government system, adriver's safety course system, an attention improvement/maintenancecourse system, a visual acuity improvement/maintenance course system,etc.), and other systems associated with vehicle possession, operationand maintenance.

The vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 mayinitiate communication with or retrieve driving data from a vehicle 204wirelessly via one or more telematics devices 206, or by way of separatecomputing systems (e.g., computer 240) over one or more computernetworks (e.g., the Internet). The vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 may also be configured to receive telematics datafrom one or more third-party telematics systems. Additionally, thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may receiveadditional data relevant to safe driving behaviors from othernon-vehicle data sources, such as external traffic databases containingtraffic data (e.g., amounts of traffic, average driving speed, trafficspeed distribution, and numbers and types of accidents, etc.) at varioustimes and locations, external weather databases containing weather data(e.g., rain, snow, sleet and hail amounts, temperatures, wind, roadconditions, visibility, etc.) at various times and locations, and otherexternal data sources containing driving hazard data (e.g., roadhazards, traffic accidents, downed trees, power outages, constructionzones, school zones, and natural disasters, etc.).

In some examples, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202 may acquire information about a vehicle directly from thevehicle 204, where the vehicle telematics data may be generated at thevehicle 204 itself. The vehicle 204 may be, for example, an automobile,motorcycle, scooter, bus, recreational vehicle, boat, airplane, bicycle,or other vehicle for which vehicle telematics data may be collected andanalyzed, and for which an associated user may be provided vehiclemaintenance savings account funds. The vehicle 204 may include one ormore sensors 210, which are capable of detecting and recording variousconditions at the vehicle and operating parameters of the vehicle. Forexample, the sensors 210 may detect, transmit, or store datacorresponding to the vehicle's location (e.g., Global Positioning System(GPS) coordinates), speed and direction, rates of acceleration,deceleration, or braking, and specific instances of sudden acceleration,braking, and swerving. The sensors 210 may also detect, transmit, orstore data received from the vehicle's internal systems, such as impactto the body of the vehicle, air bag deployment, headlights usage, brakelight operation, door opening and closing, door locking and unlocking,cruise control usage, hazard lights usage, windshield wiper usage, hornusage, turn signal usage, seat belt usage, phone and radio usage withinthe vehicle, maintenance performed on the vehicle, and other datacollected by the vehicle's computer systems.

Additional sensors 210 may detect and store the external drivingconditions, for example, external temperature, rain, snow, light levels,and sun position for driver visibility. Additional sensors 210 may alsodetect and store data relating to compliance with traffic laws and theobservance of traffic signals and signs. Additional sensors 210 mayfurther detect and store data relating to the maintenance of the vehicle204, such as the engine status, oil level, engine coolant temperature,odometer reading, the level of fuel in the fuel tank, engine revolutionsper minute (RPMs), tire pressure, or combinations thereof.

The vehicle may also include cameras or proximity sensors 210 capable ofrecording additional conditions inside or outside of the vehicle 204.For example, internal cameras 210 may detect conditions such as thenumber of passengers, the identity of the driver and/or passengers, andthe types of passengers (e.g., adults, children, teenagers, handicapped,etc.) in the vehicle, and potential sources of driver distraction withinthe vehicle (e.g., pets, phone usage, unsecured objects in the vehicle,etc.). Sensors 210 also may be configured to collect data regarding adriver's movements or the condition of a driver. For example, thevehicle 204 may include sensors 210 that monitor a driver's movements,such as the driver's eye position and/or head position, etc. Additionalsensors 210 may collect data regarding the physical and/or mental stateof the driver, such as fatigue, distress or intoxication. The conditionof the driver may be determined through the movements of the driver orthrough other sensors, for example, sensors that detect the content ofalcohol in the air or blood alcohol content of the driver (e.g., abreathalyzer). Further, the vehicle 204 may include sensors 210 that arecapable of detecting other nearby vehicles, traffic levels, roadconditions, traffic obstructions, animals, cyclists, pedestrians, andother conditions that may factor into an analysis of vehicle telematicsdata. Certain vehicle sensors 210 also may collect information regardingthe driver's route choice, whether the driver follows a given route, andto classify the type of trip (e.g., commute, errand, new route, etc.). AGPS, locational sensors positioned inside the vehicle, and/or locationalsensors or devices external to the vehicle 204 may be used determine theroute, trip type (e.g., commute, errand, new route, etc.), laneposition, and other vehicle position or location data.

The data collected by the vehicle sensors 210 may be stored or analyzedwithin the respective vehicle 204, or may be transmitted to one or moreexternal devices. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, sensor data may betransmitted to a vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation unit208, which may be a collection of special-purpose computing devices thatare interconnected and in signal communication with each other. Thespecial-purpose computing devices may be programmed with a particularset of instructions that, when executed, perform functions associatedwith using vehicle telematics data to reward drivers for engaging insafe driving behaviors. As such, a vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation unit 208 may be a separate special-purpose computing deviceor may be integrated into one or more components within the vehicle 204,such as the telematics device 206, or in the internal computing systemsof the vehicle 204. Additionally, the sensor data may be transmitted asvehicle telematics data via a telematics device 206 to one or moreremote computing devices, such as a vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202. A telematics device 206 may be a computing devicecontaining many or all of the hardware/software components of thevehicle maintenance savings account system 101 depicted in FIG. 1. Asdiscussed above, the telematics device 206 may receive vehicletelematics data from vehicle sensors 210, and may transmit the data toone or more external computer systems (e.g., an evaluation system of aninsurance company, financial institution, or other entity) over awireless transmission network. Telematics devices 206 also may beconfigured to detect or determine additional types of data relating toreal-time driving and the condition of the vehicle 204. In certainembodiments, the telematics device 206 may contain or may be integralwith one or more of the vehicle sensors 210. The telematics device 206also may store the type of its respective vehicle 204, for example, themake, model, trim (or sub-model), year, and/or engine specifications, aswell as other information such as vehicle owner or driver information,insurance information, and financing information for the vehicle 204.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the telematics device 206 may receivevehicle telematics data from vehicle sensors 210, and may transmit thedata to a vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202.However, in other examples, one or more of the vehicle sensors 210 maybe configured to transmit data directly to a vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 without using a telematics device 206. Forinstance, a telematics device 206 may be configured to receive andtransmit data from certain vehicle sensors 210, while other sensors maybe configured to directly transmit data to a vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 without using the telematics device 206.Thus, telematics device 206 may be optional in certain embodiments.

In certain embodiments, a mobile special-purpose computing device 212within the vehicle 204 may be programmed with instructions to collectvehicle telematics data from telematics device 206 and/or from sensors210, and then to transmit the vehicle telematics data to the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 and/or other externalcomputing devices. The mobile special-purpose computing device 212 mayinclude an accelerometer, a GPS unit, and/or a telecommunication unit.Software applications executing on the mobile special-purpose computingdevice 212 may be configured to detect vehicle telematics dataindependently and/or may communicate with vehicle sensors 210 to receiveadditional vehicle telematics data. For example, a mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212 equipped with an accelerometerand/or a GPS unit may determine vehicle location, speed, direction andother basic vehicle telematics data without needing to communicate withthe vehicle sensors 210, or any vehicle system. In other examples,software on the mobile special-purpose computing device 212 may beconfigured to receive some or all of the vehicle telematics datacollected by vehicle sensors 210 and/or telematics device 206. In yetother examples, software on the mobile special-purpose computing device212 may be configured to receive some or all of the vehicle telematicsdata from third-party telematics systems.

When the mobile special-purpose computing device 212 within the vehicle204 is used to detect vehicle telematics data or to receive vehicletelematics data from the vehicle 204, the mobile special-purposecomputing device 212 may store, analyze, or transmit the vehicletelematics data to one or more other devices. For example, the mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212 may transmit vehicle telematicsdata directly to a vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system202, and thus may be used in conjunction with or instead of thetelematics device 206. Moreover, the processing components of the mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212 may be used to collect and analyzevehicle telematics data for safe driving behaviors, provide safe drivingpoints and/or account funds to a user for engaging in certain userbehaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.), issue rewards and/or account funds based on the safedriving points, allow the user to monitor and maintain issued rewardsand/or account funds, allow the user to redeem and/or transfer therewards, allow the user to spend and/or transfer the account funds, andperform other related functions. Therefore, in certain embodiments, themobile special-purpose computing device 212 may be used in conjunctionwith, or in place of, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationunit 208.

The vehicle 204 may include a vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation unit 208, which may be a separate computing device or may beintegrated into one or more other components within the vehicle 204,such as the telematics device 206, the internal computing systems of thevehicle 204, or the mobile special-purpose computing device 212. Asdiscussed above, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation unit208 also may be implemented by computing devices independent from thevehicle 204, such as one or more separate computer systems 240 (e.g., auser's home or office computer, an insurance company computer, or acomputer of some other entity). In any of these examples, the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation unit 208 may contain some or allof the hardware/software components of the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount system 101 depicted in FIG. 1. Further, in certainimplementations, the functionality of the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation unit 208, such as collecting and analyzing vehicletelematics data for safe driving behaviors, providing safe drivingpoints and/or account funds to a user for engaging in certain userbehaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.), issuing rewards and/or account funds based on the safedriving points, allowing the user to monitor and maintain issued rewardsand/or account funds, allowing the user to redeem and/or transfer therewards, allowing the user to spend and/or transfer the account funds,and other related functions, may be performed in a vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202 rather than by the individualvehicle 204. In such implementations, the vehicle 204 might only collectand transmit vehicle telematics data to a vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202, and thus the vehicle-based vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation unit 208 may be optional.

The vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation unit 208 may beimplemented in hardware and/or software configured to receive vehicletelematics data from the vehicle sensors 210, the telematics device 206,and/or other vehicle telematics data sources. After receiving thevehicle telematics data, the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation unit 208 may perform functions to collect and analyze thevehicle telematics data for safe driving behaviors, provide safe drivingpoints and/or account funds to a user for engaging in certain userbehaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.), issue rewards and/or account funds based on the safedriving points, allow the user to monitor and maintain issued rewardsand/or account funds, allow the user to redeem and/or transfer therewards, allow the user to spend and/or transfer the account funds, andperform other related functions. For example, the vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation unit 208 may analyze the vehicle telematicsdata. The vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation unit 208 mayuse the results of the vehicle telematics data analysis to determinewhether the user has engaged in any safe driving behaviors. Furtherdescriptions and examples of the analyses that may be performed by thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation unit 208 are describedbelow.

The vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may alsoacquire information about certain user behaviors (e.g., safe drivingbehaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.). Safedriving behaviors, as used in this description, refer to guidelines forsafe driving. User behaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchasebehaviors, account use behaviors, etc.) may be maintained at the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 or at the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation unit 208. Additionally oralternatively, the behaviors may be maintained at a third-party (e.g.,account manager) system 244. The vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 may be in signal communication with thethird-party system 244 via a network. The network may include one ormore of a wired network (e.g., the Internet), a wireless network (e.g.,a cellular network, Bluetooth, NFC or the like), or a combination ofwired and/or wireless networks. The vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 may be in direct communication with a databasewithin the third-party system 244, or may be in indirect communicationwith a database within the third-party system 244 via a remote service(e.g., a web service). In some examples, regardless of whether the userbehaviors may be maintained at the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202, vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationunit 208, or third-party system 244, an account manager (e.g., aninsurance company) may update the user behaviors by adding new userbehaviors or modifying existing user behaviors. Where the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 determines, based onthe vehicle telematics data, that a user has engaged in safe drivingbehaviors, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202may provide safe driving points and/or account funds to the user.

The vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 maycommunicate the user's safe driving status (e.g., number of safe drivingpoints and/or amount of funds earned) to the third-party system 244. Thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may be insignal communication with the third-party system 244 via a network suchas those described above. In some embodiments, an account manager (e.g.,an insurance company) may use the safe driving data communicated to thethird-party system 244 to create competition among users and issueadditional rewards and/or account funds. For example, an account manager(e.g., an insurance company) may gamify the collection of safe drivingpoints and/or account funds by providing a leaderboard that lists users'safe driving points, rewards and/or earned account funds. Theleaderboard may also list, for example, the user behaviors (e.g., safedriving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.) ofall listed users for a particular period of time (e.g. hours, days,weeks, months, etc.).

In some examples, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202 may provide an electronic communication interface for theuser to track driving performance, vehicle maintenance, account funds,safe driving points and/or rewards earned, and the safe driving pointsand/or account funds leaderboard. As such, the electronic communicationinterface may enable the user to identify strengths and weaknesses, andto identify trends. Additionally, the electronic communication interfacemay enable the user to view issued awards and earned account funds,redeem and/or transfer the awards, and spend and/or transfer the accountfunds. The electronic communication interface may be accessible via, forexample, a web browser, desktop application, mobile application, or thelike that resides at the vehicle maintenance savings account system 101.In some examples, the electronic communication interface may reside onthe mobile special-purpose computing device 212. In other examples, theelectronic communication interface may be accessible through a separatecomputer 240.

FIG. 3 shows an example implementation of a vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202. In some example implementations, thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 is aspecial-purpose computing device programmed with instructions that, whenexecuted, perform functions associated with using user data to rewardusers for engaging in certain user behaviors (e.g., safe drivingbehaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.). In theseexample implementations, units 302-320 of the vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202 correspond to particular sets ofinstructions embodied as software programs residing at the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202. In other exampleimplementations, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202 is a collection of special-purpose computing devices that areinterconnected and in signal communication with each other. In theseexamples, each unit 302-320 of the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 respectively corresponds to a special-purposecomputing device programmed with a particular set of instructions, that,when executed, perform respective functions associated with using userdata to reward users for engaging in certain user behaviors (e.g., safedriving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.).Such special-purpose computing devices may be, for example, applicationservers programmed to perform the particular set of functions.

The vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202, in thisexample, includes various units and databases that facilitate collectingand analyzing vehicle telematics data for safe driving behaviors,providing safe driving points and/or account funds to a user forengaging in certain user behaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors,purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.), issuing rewards and/oraccount funds based on the safe driving points, allowing the user tomonitor and maintain issued rewards and/or account funds, allowing theuser to redeem and/or transfer the rewards, allowing the user to spendand/or transfer the account funds, and performing other relatedfunctions. It will be appreciated that the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 illustrated in FIG. 3 is shown by way ofexample and that other implementations of the vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202 may include additional oralternative units and databases without departing from the scope of theclaimed subject matter. In this example, the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 includes a behavior analysis unit 302having a driving analysis unit 303, purchase analysis unit 304 andaccount use analysis unit 305; an account funds calculation unit 306; asafe driving points calculation unit 307; a safe driving rewardcalculation unit 308; an account funds processing unit 309; a safedriving reward processing unit 310; and a data store 311. The behavioranalysis unit 302 may contain or may be integral with one or more of thedriving analysis unit 303, purchase analysis unit 304 and account useanalysis unit 305. In certain embodiments, the account funds calculationunit 306 may contain or may be integral with one or more of the safedriving points calculation unit 307, safe driving reward calculationunit 308, account funds processing unit 309 and safe driving rewardprocessing unit 310.

The data store 311 may store information related to certain userbehaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.), users, safe driving points, account funds, safedriving rewards and the use of account funds. For example, the datastore 311 may include a user information database 312, a behaviorsdatabase 313, a safe driving behaviors database 314, a purchasebehaviors database 315, an account use behaviors database 316, anaccount funds database 317, a safe driving points database 318, a safedriving rewards database 319 and an account funds use database 320. Thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may utilizethis information in determining certain user behaviors (e.g., safedriving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.),providing safe driving points, issuing rewards and/or account funds,allowing the user to monitor and maintain issued rewards and/or accountfunds, allowing the user to redeem and/or transfer the rewards, allowingthe user to spend and/or transfer the account funds, and performingother related functions. The behaviors database 313 may contain or maybe integral with one or more of the safe driving behaviors database 314,purchase behaviors database 315 and account use behaviors database 316.In certain embodiments, the account funds database 317 may contain ormay be integral with one or more of the safe driving points database318, safe driving rewards database 319 and account funds use database320. It will be appreciated that, in other examples, the data store 311may include additional and/or alternative databases. For example, it maybe advantageous to group the information by an insurance company of aninsurance policy held by a user. Alternatively, information associatedwith non-insured users may be maintained separately from insured users.

The user information database 312 may store information associated withusers of the vehicle maintenance savings account (e.g., vehiclemaintenance savings account number, username and password, vehicleidentification, mobile device identification, vehicle registrationinformation, account beneficiary information, user name, age, contactinformation, social media account identification information, bankaccount information, credit card information, social security number,driver's license number, state identification number, passport number,driver score, etc.). In some examples, the user information database 312may also store the user's affiliation with one or more insurancecompanies.

The behaviors database 313 may store information associated with thebehaviors (e.g., safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account usebehaviors, etc.) required to earn safe driving points and/or accountfunds (e.g., balance-affecting behaviors/events). As discussed above,the behaviors database 313 may contain or may be integral with one ormore of the safe driving behaviors database 314, purchase behaviorsdatabase 315 and account use behaviors database 316. The behaviorsdatabase 313 may associate each type/category of behavior (e.g., safedriving behavior, purchase behavior, account use behavior, etc.) with anumerical value. The numerical value may reflect the behavior'simportance in terms of driving safety, vehicle maintenance and/oraccount manager data collection. In some examples, the numerical valuemay be a number of safe driving points and/or an amount of accountfunds.

It will be appreciated that the behaviors database 313 may be optionalin some example implementations of a vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202. For instance, where the vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202 may acquire the behaviors (e.g.,safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.)from a third-party system 244, the behaviors database 313 may beduplicative.

The safe driving behaviors database 314 may store information associatedwith the safe driving behaviors that may earn safe driving points and/oraccount funds. As such, the safe driving behaviors database 314 mayassociate each safe driving behavior with a numerical value. Thenumerical value may reflect the safe driving behavior's importance interms of driving safety and/or vehicle maintenance. In some examples,the numerical value may be a number of safe driving points and/or anamount of account funds.

Safe driving behaviors may be defined as one or more driving events. Adriving event may be based on the speed, acceleration, braking, turning,distance to other vehicles, seat belt usage, turn signal usage, route,time of day, and other vehicle telematics data collected from thevehicle 204. Thus, it will be appreciated that a variety of differentsafe driving behaviors may be defined based on a variety of differentdriving events. Further, a safe driving behavior may be defined in termsof distance travelled (e.g., one hundred miles, fifty miles, twenty-fivemiles, ten miles, five miles, 1 mile, etc.) and/or time elapsed (e.g.,one hour, thirty minutes, fifteen minutes, ten minutes, five minutes,etc.) during a trip (e.g., a period of time starting when the vehicle isturned on and ending when the vehicle is turned off). For example, asafe driving behavior based in part on speed may be a trip including 1hour of highway driving within 5 mph of the prescribed speed limit. Anexample safe driving behavior based in part on braking or decelerationmay be a trip including thirty minutes of city driving withoutoccurrences of hard braking (e.g., deceleration of 7 mph/s or greater,etc.). An example safe driving behavior based in part on accelerationmay be a trip including 30 minutes of highway driving withoutoccurrences of fast acceleration (e.g., acceleration of 10 mph/s orgreater, etc.). An example safe driving behavior based in part onturning may be a trip including fifty miles of driving with only softturns (e.g., angle of turn greater than 90°, controlled turns, etc.).Another exemplary safe driving behavior may be activating a turn signalat least one hundred feet before initiating each turn of the trip. Safedriving conditions may also be based in part on particular drivingconditions. For example, a safe driving behavior may be driving at least10 mph below the speed limit during periods of the trip includinginclement or severe weather (e.g., rain, snow, fog, etc.).

In certain embodiments, safe driving behaviors include the user takingsteps in furtherance of minimizing risks and becoming and/or remaining asafe driver. For example, further non-limiting examples of safe drivingbehaviors include enrollment in, use of and/or attendance of certainprograms or courses (e.g., a driver's safety and/or education program orcourse, an attention improvement/maintenance program or course, a visualacuity improvement/maintenance program or course, and the like), notdriving (e.g., carpooling, taking public transportation, hiring a taxi,private driver or driving service, etc.), downloading and/or using safedriver, fuel and/or vehicle data mobile applications, purchase and/oruse of certain products (e.g. insurance products, vehicle safetyproducts, vehicle monitors/sensors, vehicle replacement parts,after-market vehicle safety products, and the like), participating incertain insurance programs, obtaining regular vehicle check-ups,utilizing certain insurance services, renewing an insurance policy,expanding existing insurance coverage, maintaining/meeting a regularschedule of maintenance, being claim free and/or accident free for aparticular period of time, making necessary vehicle repairs within aparticular period of time (e.g., 1 hour, 5 hours, 10 hours, 1 day, 5days, 1 week, etc.), obtaining all necessary vehicleinspections/testing, and the like. It will be appreciated thatadditional or alternative safe driving behaviors may be selectivelydefined and implemented to encourage safe driving when operating avehicle.

In some embodiments, a safe driving behavior category may be associatedwith a safe driving behavior in the safe driving behaviors database 314.For example, safe driving behaviors based in part on speed may beassociated with a safe speed driving behavior category. Similarly, safedriving behaviors based in part on braking may be associated with a safebraking driving behavior category. Other examples of safe drivingbehavior categories may include safe turning driving behavior, safesignaling driving behavior, safe distance driving behavior, safe mobiledevice usage driving behavior, safe travel route driving behavior, andso forth.

In some examples, a safe driving behavior in the safe driving behaviorsdatabase 314 may be assigned a weight, where the weight may be used incalculating safe driving points and/or account funds to be deposited ina vehicle maintenance savings account. Additionally or alternatively, asafe driving behavior category may be assigned a weight, whereby one ormore of the safe driving behaviors associated with the safe drivingbehavior category may be assigned a weight according to the weightassigned to the safe driving behavior category. For example, where asafe driving behavior category is assigned a particular weight, all safedriving behaviors associated with the safe driving behavior category maybe assigned the same weight. In another example, the weight assigned toa safe driving behavior category may be used as a default weight, whichwill be overridden by a weight assigned specifically to a safe drivingbehavior associated with the safe driving behavior category. Thecalculation of safe driving points and account funds will be describedin further detail below.

In some embodiments, the safe driving behaviors database 314 may storesafe driving behaviors as specified by different account managers. Forexample, the safe driving behaviors database 314 may maintain one set ofsafe driving behaviors for Insurance Company A, and another set of safedriving behaviors for Insurance Company B. In some examples, the sets ofdriving behaviors for Insurance Company A and Insurance Company B mayoverlap.

It will be appreciated that the safe driving behaviors database 314 maybe optional in some example implementations of a vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202. For instance, where the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may acquire the safedriving behaviors from a third-party system 244, the safe drivingbehaviors database 314 may be duplicative.

The purchase behaviors database 315 may store information associatedwith purchase restrictions and/or the purchase behaviors that may earnsafe driving points and/or account funds. As such, the purchasebehaviors database 315 may associate each purchase behavior with anumerical value. The numerical value may reflect the purchase behavior'simportance in terms of driving safety, vehicle maintenance and/oraccount manager data collection. In some examples, the numerical valuemay be a number of safe driving points and/or an amount of accountfunds.

Purchase behaviors may be defined as one or more purchasing, enrollingor subscribing events. Exemplary purchasing events include, but are notlimited to, purchasing of or enrollment in a driver's education/safetyprogram/course, an attention improvement/maintenance course/program, avisual acuity improvement/maintenance program/course and certaininsurance programs/services/courses. Further non-limiting examples ofpurchasing events include purchase of insurance products (e.g., a homeand/or auto insurance policy), safety products, fuel, vehicle parts(e.g., after-market parts such as a heads-up display; and replacementparts including batteries, brakes, tires, shocks, windshield wipers,brake pads, etc.), telematics devices, vehicle sensors/monitors,products necessary for vehicle maintenance/repair (e.g., oil, windshieldwiper fluid, brake fluid, coolant, transmission fluid, etc.). Paymentsassociated with vehicle maintenance (e.g., check-ups), repair, insurance(e.g., insurance premiums, insurance deductibles, etc.) and governmentalcompliance (e.g., inspections, registration, emissions testing,government stickers, taxes, license plates, disposal fees, etc.) arefurther non-limiting examples of purchasing events. In certaininstances, purchase of a new vehicle of a certain type (e.g., hybrid,fuel-efficient, etc.) may qualify as a purchasing event. It will beappreciated that a variety of different purchase behaviors may bedefined based on a variety of different purchase events. It will befurther appreciated that additional or alternative purchase behaviorsmay be selectively defined and implemented to encourage safe driving,vehicle maintenance and/or account manager data collection.

In some embodiments, a purchase behavior category may be associated witha purchase behavior in the purchase behaviors database 315. For example,purchase behaviors based in part on vehicle maintenance may beassociated with a vehicle maintenance purchase behavior category.Similarly, purchase behaviors based in part on vehicle repair may beassociated with a vehicle repair purchase behavior category. Otherexamples of purchase behavior categories may include, but are notlimited to, vehicle safety purchase behavior, vehicle insurance purchasebehavior, governmental compliance purchase behavior, and so forth.

In some examples, a purchase behavior in the purchase behaviors database315 may be assigned a weight, where the weight may be used incalculating safe driving points and/or account funds. For instance,purchase of a program, course, service or product from a particularauthorized, certified or preferred merchant, shop or provider may beweighted greater than purchase of a program, course, service or productfrom an unauthorized, uncertified or non-preferred merchant, shop orprovider. Similarly, purchase of authorized, certified or preferredprograms, courses, services or products may be weighted greater thanpurchase of unauthorized, uncertified or non-preferred programs,courses, services or products. Additionally or alternatively, a purchasebehavior category may be assigned a weight, whereby one or more of thepurchase behaviors associated with the purchase behavior category may beassigned a weight according to the weight assigned to the purchasebehavior category. For example, where a purchase behavior category isassigned a particular weight, all purchase behaviors associated with thepurchase behavior category may be assigned the same weight. In anotherexample, the weight assigned to a purchase behavior category may be usedas a default weight, which will be overridden by a weight assignedspecifically to a purchase behavior associated with the purchasebehavior category.

In some embodiments, the purchase behaviors database 315 may storepurchase behaviors as specified by different account managers. Forexample, the purchase behaviors database 315 may maintain one set ofpurchase behaviors for Insurance Company A, and another set of purchasebehaviors for Insurance Company B. In some examples, the sets ofpurchase behaviors for Insurance Company A and Insurance Company B mayoverlap.

It will be appreciated that the purchase behaviors database 315 may beoptional in some example implementations of a vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202. For instance, where the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may acquire thepurchase behaviors from a third-party system 244, the purchase behaviorsdatabase 315 may be duplicative.

The account use behaviors database 316 may store information associatedwith account use restrictions and/or the account use behaviors that mayearn safe driving points and/or account funds. As such, the account usebehaviors database 316 may associate each account use behavior with anumerical value. The numerical value may reflect the account usebehavior's importance in terms of driving safety, vehicle maintenanceand/or account manager data collection. In some examples, the numericalvalue may be a number of safe driving points and/or an amount of accountfunds.

Account use behaviors may be defined as one or more account use events.Exemplary account use events include, but are not limited to, using thevehicle maintenance savings account to pay for the costs of maintainingand/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs of maintenance and operationassociated with ownership, leasing or renting a vehicle) and/or driversafety, including any of such costs detailed herein. For instance,account use events may include using the account to pay for driver'seducation, driver's safety courses, attention improvement/maintenancecourses, visual acuity improvement/maintenance courses, vehiclemaintenance, repair, inspections, registration, check-ups, replacementparts, emissions testing, government stickers, taxes, license plates,insurance premiums, insurance deductibles, safety products,sensors/monitors, disposal fees, new vehicles of a certain type, etc.Further non-limiting examples of account use events include user socialbehaviors that advertise an account manager's vehicle maintenancesavings account program and/or encourage safe driving, vehiclemaintenance and sharing of data with the account manager. Non-limitingexamples of such social behaviors include referring friends/family to anaccount manager's vehicle maintenance savings account program, rewardsprogram, safe driving program, telematics program or otherprogram/service/product; referring non-account manager (e.g., insurancecompany) customers to the account manager; using social media (e.g.,Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or other social media tools) torecommend and/or advertise an account manager's vehicle maintenancesavings account program, rewards program, safe driving program,telematics program or other program/service/product (e.g., via postingabout the program/service/product, “liking” a Facebook page and/or postassociated with the program/service/product, “tweeting” about theprogram/service/product, etc.) or to document the user's vehiclemaintenance savings account progress (e.g., safe driving behaviors,purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, accumulation of account fundsand/or safe driving points, redemption of safe driving rewards, use ofaccount funds, transfer of account funds and/or safe driving points,participation in a vehicle maintenance savings account funds pool,etc.); joining a vehicle maintenance savings account funds pool;participating in a program that allows for provider/servicerecommendations to be provided to the user; and the like. Furthernon-limiting examples of account use events include downloading anaccount manager (e.g., insurance company) mobile application (e.g.,vehicle maintenance savings account mobile application, safe drivingmobile application, telematics mobile application, fuel mobileapplication, etc.); running an account manager (e.g., insurance company)mobile application (e.g., vehicle maintenance savings account mobileapplication, safe driving mobile application, telematics mobileapplication, fuel mobile application, etc.) on a user mobile device fora particular period of time; providing data to a manager of the vehiclemaintenance savings account (regarding, e.g., vehicle repair, vehiclemaintenance, telematics, insurance, etc.); participating in a rewardsprogram of particular fuel station and/or oil company; using the vehiclemaintenance savings account during and/or within a particular timeperiod; adding additional vehicles to the account; and the like.

It will be appreciated that a variety of different account use behaviorsmay be defined based on a variety of different account use events. Itwill be further appreciated that additional or alternative account usebehaviors may be selectively defined and implemented to encourage safedriving, vehicle maintenance and/or account manager data collection.

In some embodiments, an account use behavior category may be associatedwith an account use behavior in the account use behaviors database 316.For example, account use behaviors based in part on using the vehiclemaintenance savings account to pay for the costs of maintaining and/oroperating a vehicle (e.g., costs of maintenance and operation associatedwith ownership, leasing or renting a vehicle) may be associated with avehicle possession account use behavior category. Similarly, account usebehaviors based in part on using the vehicle maintenance savings accountto pay for the costs of driver safety may be associated with a driversafety account use behavior category. Other examples of account usebehavior categories may include, but are not limited to, social accountuse behavior, funds pool account use behavior, mobile applicationaccount use behavior, rewards program account use behavior, and soforth.

In some examples, an account use behavior in the account use behaviorsdatabase 316 may be assigned a weight, where the weight may be used incalculating safe driving points and/or account funds. For instance, useof the account to purchase a program, course, service or product from aparticular authorized, certified or preferred merchant, shop or providermay be weighted greater than use of the account to purchase a program,course, service or product from an unauthorized, uncertified ornon-preferred merchant, shop or provider. Similarly, using the accountto purchase authorized, certified or preferred programs, courses,services or products may be weighted greater than using the account topurchase unauthorized, uncertified or non-preferred programs, courses,services or products. Additionally or alternatively, an account usebehavior category may be assigned a weight, whereby one or more of theaccount use behaviors associated with the account use behavior categorymay be assigned a weight according to the weight assigned to the accountuse behavior category. For example, where an account use behaviorcategory is assigned a particular weight, all account use behaviorsassociated with the account use behavior category may be assigned thesame weight. In another example, the weight assigned to an account usebehavior category may be used as a default weight, which will beoverridden by a weight assigned specifically to an account use behaviorassociated with the account use behavior category.

In some embodiments, the account use behaviors database 316 may storeaccount use behaviors as specified by different account managers. Forexample, the account use behaviors database 316 may maintain one set ofaccount use behaviors for Insurance Company A, and another set ofaccount use behaviors for Insurance Company B. In some examples, thesets of account use behaviors for Insurance Company A and InsuranceCompany B may overlap.

It will be appreciated that the account use behaviors database 316 maybe optional in some example implementations of a vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202. For instance, where the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may acquire theaccount use behaviors from a third-party system 244, the account usebehaviors database 316 may be duplicative.

It will be appreciated that a variety of different behaviors may bedefined based on a variety of different behavior types/categories (e.g.,safe driving behaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.)and that the different behavior types/categories may overlap. Forinstance, purchase of a driver safety program/course by a user with thevehicle maintenance savings account may qualify as a safe drivingbehavior, purchase behavior and account use behavior. Purchase of adriver safety program/course by a user via a means other than thevehicle maintenance savings account may still qualify as a safe drivingbehavior, purchase behavior and account use behavior, for example, ifthe user shares the occurrence of such purchase socially (e.g., viasocial media or the like) and/or with the account manager (e.g., via amobile application, website, etc.).

The account funds database 317 may store information associated with theaccount funds deposited, earned and/or accumulated by a user. Theaccount funds database 317 may enable the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 to maintain the amount of account fundsdeposited, earned and/or accumulated by a user. Thus, the account fundsdatabase 317 may maintain, e.g., through a database relationship, anassociation between a user in the user information database 312, and theamount of account funds deposited, earned and/or accumulated by a user.According to certain embodiments, the account funds database 317 mayenable the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 tomaintain all account funds together, with no distinction between money,money-proxy, Superdollars (e.g., a percentage and/or multiple of adollar), interest, etc. In other embodiments, the account funds database317 may enable the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system202 to partition account funds based on funds type and/or source. Forinstance, in some aspects, the account funds database 317 enables thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 to partitionaccount funds based on funds type (e.g., money or money proxy). In otheraspects, the account funds database 317 enables the vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202 to partition account funds basedon two or more funds sources (e.g., funds provided by account manager,funds deposited by user, interest earned on funds provided by accountmanager, interest earned on funds deposited by user, funds transferredfrom another user and/or funds pool, Superdollars, interest earned onSuperdollars, etc.). As will be described in further detail below, thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may provide auser with account funds based at least on the information stored in theaccount funds database 317 and one or more of the behaviors database313, safe driving behaviors database 314, purchase behaviors database315, and account use behaviors database 316.

The safe driving points database 318 may store information associatedwith the safe driving points provided to a user. The safe driving pointsdatabase 318 may enable the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 to maintain the number of safe driving pointsearned by a user. Thus, the safe driving points database 318 maymaintain, e.g., through a database relationship, an association betweena user in the user information database 312, and the number of safedriving points earned by a user. As will be described in further detailbelow, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 mayprovide a user with safe driving points based at least on theinformation stored in the safe driving behaviors database 314 and thesafe driving points database 318.

The safe driving rewards database 319 may store information associatedwith rewards issued to a user. The safe driving rewards database 319 mayenable the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 tomaintain rewards issued to the user. In some examples, the safe drivingrewards database 319 may store information regarding a status of eachreward (e.g., Unused, Used, Expired, etc.), a mechanism for redemption(e.g., a coupon code, a QR code, a barcode, an account code, etc.), andone or more vendors (e.g., one or more vehicle service systems 242and/or one or more third-party systems 244) where the reward may beredeemed. As will be described in further detail below, the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may provide a userwith rewards based on at least the information stored in the safedriving points database 318 and the safe driving rewards database 319.

In certain embodiments, the user is a particular vehicle associated withthe vehicle maintenance savings account and the safe driving pointsdatabase 318 may store information associated with the safe drivingpoints for a user (e.g., particular vehicle). In this example, the safedriving points database 318 may enable the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 to maintain the number of safe drivingpoints earned with respect to a particular vehicle based on thetelematics data collected for that vehicle. Accordingly, the safedriving rewards database 319 may store information associated withrewards issued for a particular user (e.g., vehicle). As such, thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may providerewards to an individual associated with the user (e.g., vehicle) basedat least on the information stored in the user information database 312.Where multiple individuals are associated with a vehicle (e.g., a sharedvehicle), the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202may provide rewards to an individual designated as the primary driver ofthe vehicle, or distribute the rewards between each of the individuals(e.g., proportional to driving time, proportional to ownership interest,equally, etc.). In some examples, the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 may vary the rewards based on theindividual's association with an account manager (e.g., an insurancecompany), such that an account manager customer may receive more or lessof a reward than a non-account manager customer for the engaging in sameor similar driving behaviors.

The account funds use database 320 may store information associated withthe use of account funds deposited, earned and/or accumulated by a user.The account funds use database 320 may enable the vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202 to place restrictions (e.g,spending and/or transfer restrictions) on the use of account funds. Theaccount funds use database 320 may, for instance, enable the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 to restrict use of theaccount funds to purchases of particular products (e.g., certain safetyproducts, vehicle parts, etc.), particular vendors and/or particulartransfers (e.g., to a vehicle maintenance savings account funds pool).In some embodiments, only a percentage or certain type (e.g., money,money proxy, interest, Superdollars, etc.) of funds may be used in acertain location (e.g., at a particular vendor/service provider). Insome aspects, the amount of funds transferable from one vehiclemaintenance savings account to another (e.g., for a vehicle maintenancesavings account funds pool) may be limited. According to variousaspects, the spending and/or transfer restrictions may be designated bythe user and/or the manager of the account. A user may, for example, setrestrictions in order to avoid loss of account funds in the event anaccount/fob is lost or stolen. In some examples, a user may setrestrictions in order to avoid a user in a group of users using all ofthe funds at one time. Parent users may restrict a child's use of theaccount to purchase of certain items or services (e.g., gas or otheritems at gas station; only gas at a gas station, and not food or otherproducts, etc.). In certain instances, the account manager may onlypermit transfer of a portion of the account balance. In some examples,the account funds use database 320 may store information regarding atype of funds (e.g., money, money-proxy, Superdollars, interest, etc.),a status of each type of funds (e.g., Unused, Used, Expired, Spent,Transferred, etc.), a mechanism for redemption (e.g., a coupon code, aQR code, a barcode, an account code, etc.), and one or more vendors(e.g., one or more vehicle service systems 242 and/or one or morethird-party systems 244) where the account funds may be spent. As willbe described in further detail below, the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 may allow a user to spend and/or transferaccount funds based on at least the information stored in the accountfunds use database 320, account funds database 317 and one or more ofthe behaviors database 313, safe driving behaviors database 314,purchase behaviors database 315, and account use behaviors database 316.

In certain embodiments, the user is a particular vehicle associated withthe vehicle maintenance savings account and the account funds database317 may store information associated with the account funds for a user(e.g., particular vehicle). In this example, the account funds database317 may enable the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system202 to maintain the amount of account funds deposited, earned and/oraccumulated with respect to a particular vehicle based on the telematicsdata collected for that vehicle. Accordingly, the account funds usedatabase 320 may store information associated with use of account fundsdeposited, earned and/or accumulated for a particular user (e.g.,vehicle). As such, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202 may provide account funds to an individual associated withthe user (e.g., vehicle) based at least on the information stored in theuser information database 312. Where multiple individuals are associatedwith a vehicle (e.g., a shared vehicle), the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 may provide account funds to an individualdesignated as the primary driver of the vehicle, or distribute theaccount funds between each of the individuals (e.g., proportional todriving time, proportional to ownership interest, equally, etc.). Insome examples, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system202 may vary the amount and/or type of account funds (e.g.,Superdollars, interest, money, money-proxy, etc.) based on theindividual's association with an account manager (e.g., an insurancecompany), such that an account manager customer may receive more or lessaccount funds than a non-account manager customer for the engaging insame or similar driving behaviors.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a flowchart of high-level example steps foranalyzing user data and providing account funds, safe driving pointsand/or rewards based on the user data is shown. The various componentsof the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may beused to perform these method steps. In certain embodiments, user datamay be vehicle telematics data including data received from one or moretelematics devices 206, vehicle sensors 210, or vehicle subsystems andthen transmitted to a system or device located remotely relative to thevehicle. Additionally or alternatively, user data may be user purchasedata including data received from one or more vehicle service devices orsystems 242, third-party devices or systems 244, and/or other devices orsubsystems associated with vehicle possession, operation andmaintenance, and then, optionally, transmitted to a system or devicelocated remotely relative to the transmitting device(s) or subsystem(s).Additionally or alternatively, user data may be account use dataincluding data received from one or more vehicle maintenance savingsaccount devices or subsystems, vehicle service devices or subsystems,third-party devices or subsystems, social media devices or subsystems,and/or other devices or subsystems associated with vehicle possession,operation and maintenance and then, optionally, transmitted to a systemor device located remotely relative to the transmitting device(s) orsubsystem(s); etc.). User data (e.g., vehicle telematics data, userpurchase data, account use data, etc.) may also include data receivedfrom a mobile computing device (e.g., mobile phone, portable computingdevice, mobile special-purpose computing device 212 or the like) or athird-party system 244 (e.g., a third party telematics system).

The driving analysis unit 303 may receive and analyze vehicle telematicsdata (block 402) from the vehicle 204 (e.g., by a telematics device 206installed at or attached to the vehicle 204, and/or by one or moresensors 210 installed at, attached to, and/or remotely located relativeto the vehicle 204), from a mobile special-purpose computing device 212(e.g., via a mobile application installed on the mobile special-purposecomputing device 212), or a combination thereof. The driving analysisunit 303 may analyze the vehicle telematics data to identify one or moredriving events, one or more driving behaviors, and/or one or moredriving conditions as described above. The driving analysis unit 303 maygenerate driving analysis results based on the driving events,behaviors, or conditions, and provide the driving analysis results tothe account funds calculation unit 306 and/or the safe driving pointscalculation unit 307.

In some examples, the vehicle telematics data from the various sourcesmay first be collected at a central location (e.g., at the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation unit 208, at the mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212, etc.) and subsequently provided tothe driving analysis unit 303. Thus, the driving analysis unit 303 mayreceive vehicle telematics data from the various sources in real-time,or may receive a compiled version of the vehicle telematics data fromthe central location. Where the driving analysis unit 303 receivesvehicle telematics data in real-time, the driving analysis unit 303 mayassociate the vehicle telematics data received from the various sourceswith a single trip. In some examples, the various sources of the vehicletelematics data may assign a unique trip identifier to the vehicletelematics data, such that the driving analysis unit 303 associates allvehicle telematics data assigned to a particular unique trip identifierwith a single trip. Additionally or alternatively, the driving analysisunit 303 may receive all vehicle telematics data associated with a tripfrom the central location. In some embodiments, the driving analysisunit 303 may send the vehicle telematics data to one or morethird-parties (e.g., insurance companies) at a third-party system 244(e.g., insurance system).

The safe driving points calculation unit 307 may calculate and providesafe driving points earned by a user based on the vehicle telematicsdata received by the driving analysis unit 303 (block 404). The safedriving reward calculation unit 308 may determine whether to issuerewards based on the safe driving points earned by the user (block 406).If the safe driving reward calculation unit 308 determines to issue areward (block 406), the safe driving reward calculation unit 308 mayissue a reward to the user (block 408). In certain embodiments, thereward may be a discount towards a vehicular service/product (e.g., gas,towing, maintenance, repair, new vehicle, inspection, emissions testing,roadside assistance, parts, safety products, sensors/monitors, etc.)and/or third-party service/product (e.g., insurance, fleet management,driver's education, DMV, government fees/requirements, driver's safety,attention improvement/maintenance, visual acuityimprovement/maintenance, etc.). The reward may be redeemable at avehicle service system 242 or a third-party system 244 via a mechanismfor redemption (e.g., a coupon code, QR code, barcode, account code,etc.). Alternatively or additionally, the reward may be a rebate orfunds, and may be redeemable at the user's vehicle maintenance savingsaccount (e.g., the reward may be deposited into a user's vehiclemaintenance savings account). In some examples, the reward may be storedin the vehicle maintenance savings account as a reward. Alternatively,the reward may be converted to funds that are stored in the account.Conversely, if the safe driving reward calculation unit 308 determinesnot to issue a reward (block 406), then the safe driving rewardcalculation unit 308 may not issue a reward to the user (block 410).

Additionally or alternatively, the account funds calculation unit 306may calculate and provide account funds earned by a user based on thevehicle telematics data received by the driving analysis unit 303 (block404). In certain embodiments, the account funds calculation unit 306 mayconvert safe driving points earned by a user directly into account funds(block 404) (e.g., without calculation and/or issuance of a reward basedon safe driving points earned by the user). In certain aspects, theaccount funds calculation unit 306 may determine whether to issueSuperdollars based on the safe driving points earned by the user and/orthe particular safe driving behavior and/or event (block 406). If theaccount funds calculation unit 306 determines to issue Superdollars(block 406), the account funds calculation unit 306 may issueSuperdollars to the user (block 408). For example, a user (e.g., driver)who carpools may earn 120% of a dollar if the user drives withpassengers. In another example, a user (e.g., a passenger) may earn 20%of a dollar just for being a passenger in a carpool. In certainembodiments, the Superdollars may be restricted to use towards avehicular service/product (e.g., gas, towing, maintenance, repair, newvehicle, inspection, emissions testing, roadside assistance, parts,safety products, sensors/monitors, etc.) and/or third-partyservice/product (e.g., insurance, fleet management, driver's education,DMV, government fees/requirements, driver's safety, attentionimprovement/maintenance, visual acuity improvement/maintenance, etc.).In some aspects, the cost of a particular product or service may bereduced if Superdollars are used to pay for such. The Superdollars maybe redeemable at a vehicle service system 242 or a third-party system244 via a mechanism for redemption (e.g., a coupon code, QR code,barcode, account code, etc.). Conversely, if the account fundscalculation unit 306 determines not to issue Superdollars (block 406),then the account funds calculation unit 306 may not issue SuperDollarsto the user (block 410).

The purchase analysis unit 304 may receive and analyze user purchasedata (block 402) from, for example, a mobile special-purpose computingdevice 212 (e.g., via a mobile application installed on the mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212), vehicle service system 242,third-party system 244 or combination thereof. The purchase analysisunit 304 may analyze the user purchase data to identify one or morepurchasing events and/or one or more purchasing behaviors as describedabove. The purchase analysis unit 304 may generate purchasing analysisresults based on the purchasing events and/or behaviors, and provide thepurchasing analysis results to the account funds calculation unit 306and/or the safe driving points calculation unit 307.

In some examples, the user purchase data from the various sources mayfirst be collected at a central location (e.g., at the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation unit 208, at the mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212, etc.) and subsequently provided tothe purchase analysis unit 304. Thus, the purchase analysis unit 304 mayreceive user purchase data from the various sources in real-time, or mayreceive a compiled version of the user purchase data from the centrallocation. Where the purchase analysis unit 304 receives user purchasedata in real-time, the purchase analysis unit 304 may associate the userpurchase data received from the various sources with a singletransaction. In some examples, the various sources of the user purchasedata may assign a unique transaction identifier to the user purchasedata, such that the purchase analysis unit 304 associates all userpurchase data assigned to a particular unique transaction identifierwith a single transaction. Additionally or alternatively, the purchaseanalysis unit 304 may receive all user purchase data associated with atransaction from the central location. In some embodiments, the purchaseanalysis unit 304 may send the user purchase data to one or morethird-parties (e.g., insurance companies) at a third-party system 244(e.g., insurance system).

The account funds calculation unit 306 may calculate and provide accountfunds earned by a user based on the user purchase data received by thepurchase analysis unit 304 (block 404). The account funds calculationunit 306 may determine whether to issue Superdollars based on theaccount funds earned by the user and the particular purchase behaviorand/or event (block 406). If the account funds calculation unit 306determines to issue Superdollars (block 406), the account fundscalculation unit 306 may issue Superdollars to the user (block 408). Incertain embodiments, the Superdollars may be restricted to use towards avehicular service/product (e.g., gas, towing, maintenance, repair, newvehicle, inspection, emissions testing, roadside assistance, parts,safety products, sensors/monitors, etc.) and/or third-partyservice/product (e.g., insurance, fleet management, driver's education,DMV, government fees/requirements, driver's safety, attentionimprovement/maintenance, visual acuity improvement/maintenance, etc.).The Superdollars may be redeemable at a vehicle service system 242 or athird-party system 244 via a mechanism for redemption (e.g., a couponcode, QR code, barcode, account code, etc.). Conversely, if the accountfunds calculation unit 306 determines not to issue Superdollars (block406), then the account funds calculation unit 306 may not issueSuperDollars to the user (block 410).

The account use analysis unit 305 may receive and analyze account usedata (block 402) from, for example, a mobile special-purpose computingdevice 212 (e.g., via a mobile application installed on the mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212), vehicle service system 242,third-party system 244 or combination thereof. The account use analysisunit 305 may analyze the account use data to identify one or moreaccount use events and/or one or more account use behaviors as describedabove. The account use analysis unit 305 may generate account useanalysis results based on the account use events and/or behaviors, andprovide the account use analysis results to the account fundscalculation unit 306 and/or the safe driving points calculation unit307.

In some examples, the account use data from the various sources mayfirst be collected at a central location (e.g., at the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation unit 208, at the mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212, etc.) and subsequently provided tothe account use analysis unit 305. Thus, the account use analysis unit305 may receive account use data from the various sources in real-time,or may receive a compiled version of the account use data from thecentral location. Where the account use analysis unit 305 receivesaccount use data in real-time, the account use analysis unit 305 mayassociate the account use data received from the various sources with asingle account use. In some examples, the various sources of the accountuse data may assign a unique account use identifier to the account usedata, such that the account use analysis unit 305 associates all accountuse data assigned to a particular unique account use identifier with anaccount use. Additionally or alternatively, the account use analysisunit 305 may receive all account use data associated with an account usefrom the central location. In some embodiments, the account use analysisunit 305 may send the account use data to one or more third-parties(e.g., insurance companies) at a third-party system 244 (e.g., insurancesystem).

The account funds calculation unit 306 may calculate and provide accountfunds earned by a user based on the account use data received by theaccount use analysis unit 305 (block 404). The account funds calculationunit 306 may determine whether to issue Superdollars based on theaccount funds earned by the user and the particular account usebehavior/event (block 406). If the account funds calculation unit 306determines to issue Superdollars (block 406), the account fundscalculation unit 306 may issue Superdollars to the user (block 408). Incertain embodiments, the Superdollars may be restricted to use towards avehicular service/product (e.g., gas, towing, maintenance, repair, newvehicle, inspection, emissions testing, roadside assistance, parts,safety products, sensors/monitors, etc.) and/or third-partyservice/product (e.g., insurance, fleet management, driver's education,DMV, government fees/requirements, driver's safety, attentionimprovement/maintenance, visual acuity improvement/maintenance, etc.).The Superdollars may be redeemable at a vehicle service system 242 or athird-party system 244 via a mechanism for redemption (e.g., a couponcode, QR code, barcode, account code, etc.). Conversely, if the accountfunds calculation unit 306 determines not to issue Superdollars (block406), then the account funds calculation unit 306 may not issueSuperDollars to the user (block 410).

Referring to FIG. 5, a flowchart of example method steps for calculatingand providing safe driving points is shown. The safe driving pointscalculation unit 307 may be configured to calculate and provide safedriving points on-demand as vehicle telematics data is received andprocessed by the driving analysis unit 303 (e.g., in real-time, at theend of each trip, etc.), or at regular intervals (e.g., daily, monthly,quarterly, annually, etc.). The safe driving points calculation unit 307may receive the driving analysis results from the driving analysis unit303 (block 502). The safe driving points calculation unit 307 may selecta set of safe driving behaviors upon which to base the total safedriving points provided to the user (block 504). The set of safe drivingbehaviors comprise one or more safe driving behaviors defined in thesafe driving behaviors database 314. In some embodiments, the set ofsafe driving behaviors may include all of the safe driving behaviorsdefined in the safe driving behaviors database 314. In otherembodiments, the set of safe driving behaviors may be a subset of thesafe driving behaviors defined in the safe driving behaviors database314. For example, the set of safe driving behaviors may be limited tosafe driving behaviors associated with one or more safe driving behaviorcategories. In another example, the set of safe driving behaviors may belimited to safe driving behaviors associated with a particularthird-party or account manager (e.g., insurance company). In yet anotherexample, the set of safe driving behaviors may be based on the drivinganalysis results received. Thus, the set of safe driving behaviors usedto calculate and provide safe driving points may vary for users usingthe vehicle maintenance savings account acquisition system 100.Alternatively, a uniform set of safe driving behaviors may be employedto calculate and provide safe driving points.

Based on the selected set of safe driving behaviors, the safe drivingpoints calculation unit 307 may calculate a number of safe drivingpoints to provide the user (block 506). For each safe driving behaviorin the selected set of safe driving behaviors, the safe driving pointscalculation unit 307 may calculate a score based on the driving analysisresults (block 508). Specifically, the safe driving points calculationunit 307 may first determine whether the safe driving behavior wasexhibited in the driving analysis results. For example, where the safedriving behavior is based on maintaining an average speed below 50 mphduring a trip, the safe driving points calculation unit 307 maydetermine whether the driving analysis results for a particular tripreflected an average speed below 50 mph by comparing the average speedof the trip with the 50 mph limit. In some examples, the drivinganalysis results may include overall trip metrics (e.g.,minimum/maximum/average speed, number of hard brakes, total milestraveled, etc.), such that the safe driving points calculation unit 307may compare the metrics to the requirements of a safe driving behavior.However, in other examples, the safe driving points calculation unit 307may need to derive one or more trip metrics in order to make adetermination as to whether a user engaged in a safe driving behavior.For example, where a safe driving behavior involves two or moreconditions (e.g., maintaining an average speed at least 10 mph below thespeed limit while driving in rain), the safe driving points calculationunit 307 may create a subset of driving analysis results correspondingto periods of rain, and compute an average speed for the subset ofdriving analysis results.

Where the safe driving points calculation unit 307 determines that theuser engaged in a safe driving behavior based on the driving analysisresults, the safe driving points calculation unit 307 may use thenumerical value associated with the safe driving behavior in the safedriving behaviors database 314 as the score of the safe drivingbehavior. The safe driving points calculation unit 307 may adjust thescore of the safe driving behavior based on a weight assigned to thesafe driving behavior in the safe driving behaviors database 314 (block510). Where the safe driving behavior is assigned a weight, the safedriving points calculation unit 307 may combine the score of the safedriving behavior with the weight of the safe driving behavior (e.g., bymultiplying the weight and the numerical value) (block 512).Additionally or alternatively, the safe driving points calculation unit307 may use the weight assigned to the safe driving behavior categoryassociated with the safe driving behavior in the safe driving behaviorsdatabase 314 to adjust the score of the safe driving behavior.

The safe driving points calculation unit 307 may repeat these methodsteps (blocks 508, 510 and 512) for all safe driving behaviors in theselected set of safe driving behaviors (block 513). As such, the safedriving points calculation unit 307 may calculate a score (weighted ornon-weighted) for each safe driving behavior in the selected set of safedriving behaviors.

The safe driving points calculation unit 307 may apply a safe drivingpoints equation to the number of safe driving points to provide to theuser (block 514). In some examples, the safe driving points equation mayaggregate the scores for each safe driving behavior in the selected setof safe driving behaviors. An example of a safe driving points equationmay be:safe driving points=safe_driving_behavior[1].score+safedriving_behavior[2].score+ . . . +safe_driving_behavior[n].scorewhere safe_driving_behavior[1].score . . .safe_driving_behavior[n].score are the respective scores for each safedriving behavior in the selected set of safe driving behaviors. In someexamples, the scores for each safe driving behavior may be weighted, asdescribed above. Additionally or alternatively, the scores for each safedriving behavior may be weighted by the safe driving points equation. Anexample of a safe driving points equation with weights may be:safe driving points=(safe_driving_behavior[1].score×weight[1])+(safedriving_behavior[2].score×weight[2])+ . . .+(safe_driving_behavior[n].score×weight[n])where weight[1] . . . weight[n] are the weights respectively associatedwith safe_driving_behavior[1] . . . safe_driving_behavior[n].

It will be appreciated that additional or alternative mathematicaloperations may be selectively employed to aggregate the scores for eachsafe driving behavior in the selected set of safe driving behaviors. Itwill also be appreciated that the safe driving points calculation unit307 may be configured to employ one or more safe driving pointsequations that respectively aggregate different safe driving behaviors.For example, where an insurance company (e.g., Insurance Company A)maintains a set of safe driving behaviors (e.g., Safe Driving BehaviorsA), the insurance company may also maintain a corresponding safe drivingpoints equation (e.g., Safe Driving Points Equation A) to aggregate thescores associated with each safe driving behavior in Safe DrivingBehaviors A.

In some embodiments, the safe driving points equation and/or accountfunds equation may include a penalty for unsafe driving behaviors. Thus,where the driving analysis results indicate that the user engages inunsafe driving behaviors, the safe driving points calculation unit 307may deduct points accordingly. One or more sets of unsafe drivingbehaviors may be stored in the safe driving behaviors database 314, orin a different database (e.g., an unsafe driving behaviors database).The safe driving points calculation unit 307 may thus repeat steps508-512 for the unsafe driving behaviors, such that the safe drivingpoints calculation unit 307 calculates a score (weighted ornon-weighted) for each unsafe driving behavior, and aggregates thesescores to calculate a unsafe driving score penalty. The unsafe drivingscore penalty is subtracted from the aggregated safe driving behaviorsscores in the safe driving points equation. As described in reference tosafe driving behaviors, the unsafe driving behaviors may be stored asspecified by different third-party systems. For example, one set ofunsafe driving behaviors may be maintained for Insurance Company A, andanother set of unsafe driving behaviors may be maintained for InsuranceCompany B. The various sets of unsafe driving behaviors may overlap.

The safe driving points calculation unit 307 may update the total numberof safe driving points earned by the user based on the output of thesafe driving points equation (block 516). The safe driving pointscalculation unit 307 may update the safe driving points database 316 toreflect an increased number of safe driving points for a particularuser. In some examples, where the safe driving points database 318contains a non-zero value amount of total safe driving points for aparticular user, the safe driving points calculation unit 307 mayincrement this value by the output of the safe driving points equation,as calculated in block 506. The safe driving points calculation unit 307may send the updated total number of safe driving points to the safedriving reward calculation unit 308 and/or the account funds calculationunit 306 (block 518). In certain embodiments, the account fundscalculation unit 306 may convert safe driving points earned by a userdirectly into account funds (block 404) (e.g., without calculationand/or issuance of a reward based on safe driving points earned by theuser). In some embodiments, the safe driving points calculation unit 307may also send the updated total number of safe driving points to one ormore third-parties (e.g., insurance companies) at a third-party system244. In some embodiments, the safe driving points calculation unit 307may be configured to limit the total number of safe driving pointsearned by the user over a period of time. For example, the safe drivingpoints calculation unit 307 may be configured to allow no more than 1000safe driving points per calendar year per user. In another example, thesafe driving points calculation unit 307 may be configured to allow nomore than 100,000 safe driving points per calendar year for all users.As such, in some examples, the safe driving points calculation unit 307may increment the total number of safe driving points earned by the userby an amount less than the output of the safe driving points equation(block 516).

In an alternate embodiment, the safe driving points calculation unit 307may calculate safe driving points for each set of driving behaviors inthe safe driving behaviors database 314. For example, the safe drivingpoints calculation unit 307 may calculate and maintain safe drivingpoints for each third-party (e.g., insurance company). For example,after one trip, a user may earn 450 safe driving points based on safedriving behaviors for Insurance Company A, but the same user may earn500 safe driving points based on safe driving behaviors for InsuranceCompany B. As such, the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202 may maintain the total safe driving points earned by a userfrom the perspective of each insurance company.

In some embodiments, the safe driving points calculation unit 307 mayalso calculate a number of safe driving points to provide to the userbased on a user's interaction with the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202. For example, the safe driving pointscalculation unit 307 may provide safe driving points to a user forenrolling in the safe driving points program (e.g., creating a useraccount associated with the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202). In other examples, the safe driving pointscalculation unit 307 may provide safe driving points to a user forfurther engaging with the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202, such as, taking a survey, emailing a promotion code, orlearning about safe driving (e.g., participating in a safe drivingtutorial, watching a safe driving video, etc.).

Referring to FIG. 6, a flowchart of example method steps for calculatingand providing account funds is shown. The account funds calculation unit306 may be configured to calculate and provide account funds on-demandas user data is received and processed by the behavior analysis unit 302(e.g., in real-time, at the end of each trip, etc.), or at regularintervals (e.g., daily, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.). The accountfunds calculation unit 306 may receive the behavior analysis resultsfrom the behavior analysis unit 302 (block 602). The account fundscalculation unit 306 may select a set of user behaviors upon which tobase the total account funds provided to the user (block 604). The setof user behaviors comprise one or more safe driving behaviors defined inthe safe driving behaviors database 314, one or more purchase behaviorsdefined in purchase behaviors database 315, and/or one or more accountuse behaviors defined in the account use database 316. In someembodiments, the set of user behaviors may include all of the userbehaviors defined in the behaviors database 313. In other embodiments,the set of user behaviors may be a subset of the user behaviors definedin the behaviors database 313. For example, the set of user behaviorsmay be limited to user behaviors associated with one or more userbehavior categories. In another example, the set of user behaviors maybe limited to user behaviors associated with a particular insurancecompany. In yet another example, the set of user behaviors may be basedon the behavior analysis results received. Thus, the set of userbehaviors used to calculate and provide account funds may vary for usersusing the vehicle maintenance savings account acquisition system 100.Alternatively, a uniform set of user behaviors may be employed tocalculate and provide account funds.

Based on the selected set of user behaviors, the account fundscalculation unit 306 may calculate an amount of account funds to providethe user (block 606). For each user behavior in the selected set of userbehaviors, the account funds calculation unit 306 may calculate a scorebased on the behavior analysis results (block 608). Specifically, theaccount funds calculation unit 306 may first determine whether the userbehavior was exhibited in the behavior analysis results. For example,where the user behavior is based on maintaining a regular vehiclemaintenance schedule, the account funds calculation unit 306 maydetermine whether the behavior analysis results for a particular timeperiod reflected an average maintenance schedule by comparing an averagemaintenance schedule with the maintenance schedule maintained by theuser during the particular time period. In some examples, the behavioranalysis results may include overall trip metrics (e.g.,minimum/maximum/average speed, number of hard brakes, total milestraveled, etc.), such that the account funds calculation unit 306 maycompare the metrics to the requirements of a safe driving behavior.However, in other examples, the account funds calculation unit 306 mayneed to derive one or more trip metrics in order to make a determinationas to whether a driver engaged in a safe driving behavior. For example,where a safe driving behavior involves two or more conditions (e.g.,maintaining an average speed at least 10 mph below the speed limit whiledriving in rain), the account funds calculation unit 306 may create asubset of behavior (e.g., driving) analysis results corresponding toperiods of rain, and compute an average speed for the subset of behavior(e.g., driving) analysis results.

Where the account funds calculation unit 306 determines that the userengaged in a certain behavior based on the behavior analysis results,the account funds calculation unit 306 may use the numerical valueassociated with the user behavior in the behaviors database 313 as thescore of the particular user behavior. The account funds calculationunit 306 may adjust the score of the user behavior based on a weightassigned to the user behavior in the behaviors database 313 (block 610).Where the user behavior is assigned a weight, the account fundscalculation unit 306 may combine the score of the user behavior with theweight of the user behavior (e.g., by multiplying the weight and thenumerical value) (block 612). Additionally or alternatively, the accountfunds calculation unit 306 may use the weight assigned to the userbehavior category associated with the user behavior in the userbehaviors database 313 to adjust the score of the user behavior.

The account funds calculation unit 306 may repeat these method steps(blocks 608, 610, and 612) for all user behaviors in the selected set ofuser behaviors. As such, the account funds calculation unit 306 maycalculate a score (weighted or non-weighted) for each user behavior inthe selected set of user behaviors.

The account funds calculation unit 306 may apply an account fundsequation to calculate the amount of account funds to provide to the user(block 614). In some examples, the account funds equation may aggregatethe scores for each user behavior in the selected set of user behaviors.An example of an account funds equation may be:accountfunds=user_designation[1]+user_behavior[1].score+user_behavior[2].score+. . . +user behavior[n].scorewhere user_behavior[1].score . . . user_behavior[n].score are therespective scores for each user behavior in the selected set of userbehaviors and user_designation[1] is the amount of funds deposited bythe user. In some examples, the scores for each user behavior may beweighted, as described above. Additionally or alternatively, the scoresfor each user behavior may be weighted by the account funds equation. Anexample of an account funds equation with weights may be:accountfunds=user_designation[1]+(user_behavior[1].score×weight[1])+(user_behavior[2].score×weight[2])+. . . +(user_behavior[n].score×weight[n])where weight[1] . . . weight[n] are the weights (e.g., Superdollars)respectively associated with user behavior[1].score . . .user_behavior[n].score.

It will be appreciated that additional or alternative mathematicaloperations may be selectively employed to aggregate the scores for eachuser behavior in the selected set of user behaviors. According tovarious embodiments the account manager may deposit an amount of funds(e.g., money, money proxy, Superdollars, etc.) or percentage of apurchase price into the vehicle maintenance savings account based on,for example, the amount or percentage specified by the account funds usedatabase 320 and/or the behaviors database 313. In some examples, aparticular user behavior (e.g., purchase of a particularproduct/service, use of a particular merchant/service provider, aparticular account use, etc.) may earn a user a set amount of funds(e.g., $5 for referring a user that is not a customer of the accountmanager, $10 for an oil change at a particular service provider, $15 fora tire rotation, 3% of the purchase price for new brakes, etc.) or aparticular Superdollar multiplier (e.g., 120% of a dollar if the userdrives with passengers, 20% of a dollar for being a passenger in acarpool, 150% of a dollar if the user purchases original safetyequipment, 50% of a dollar if the user uses the vehicle maintenancesavings account to pay for any costs of maintaining and/or operating aparticular type of vehicle (e.g., a hybrid vehicle), etc.). In certainexamples, the vehicle maintenance savings account earns fundscontinuously (e.g., a certain amount of funds per month/week/year and/orper mile, etc.) in the absence of certain undesirable user behaviors.For instance, the vehicle maintenance savings account balance couldincrease by $0.40/mile in the absence of a car accident or otherundesirable user behavior. In some instances, the vehicle maintenancesavings account balance could increase by a certain amount of funds pergallon of gas purchased at a particular fuel station. It will also beappreciated that the account funds calculation unit 306 may beconfigured to employ one or more account funds equations thatrespectively aggregate different user behaviors. For example, where aninsurance company (e.g., Insurance Company A) maintains a set of userbehaviors (e.g., Safe Driving Behaviors A, Purchase Behaviors A andAccount Use Behaviors A), the insurance company may also maintain acorresponding account funds equation (e.g., Account Funds Equation A) toaggregate the scores associated with each user behavior in Safe DrivingBehaviors A, Purchase Behaviors A and/or Account Use Behaviors A.

In some embodiments, the account funds equation may include a penaltyfor certain undesirable behaviors (e.g., unsafe driving behaviors).Thus, where the behavior analysis results indicates that the userengages in undesirable behaviors (e.g., unsafe driving behaviors), theaccount funds calculation unit 306 may deduct funds accordingly. Invarious embodiments, user designated/deposited funds may not be deductedif the user engages in undesirable behaviors. Rather, Superdollars,interest, money-proxy and the like may be deducted if the user engagesin undesirable behaviors. In other embodiments, if the user engages inundesirable behaviors the weight may be reduced (e.g., by half, to zero,etc.) for a particular period of time (e.g., days, weeks, months,indefinitely, etc.). In certain embodiments, the user will receive anotification that a particular penalty will apply if the user engages inany more or a particular number of undesirable behaviors. One or moresets of undesirable user behaviors may be stored in the behaviorsdatabase 313, or in a different database (e.g., an undesirable userbehaviors database). The account funds calculation unit 306 may thusrepeat steps 608-612 for the undesirable user behaviors, such that theaccount funds calculation unit 306 calculates a score (weighted ornon-weighted) for each undesirable user behavior, and aggregates thesescores to calculate an undesirable user behavior score penalty. Theundesirable user behavior score penalty is subtracted from theaggregated user behaviors score in the account funds equation. Asdescribed in reference to safe driving behaviors, the undesirable userbehaviors may be stored as specified by different third-party systems.For example, one set of undesirable user behaviors may be maintained forInsurance Company A, and another set of undesirable user behaviors maybe maintained for Insurance Company B. The various sets of undesirableuser behaviors may overlap.

The account funds calculation unit 306 may update the total accountfunds deposited, earned and/or accumulated by the user based on theoutput of the account funds equation (block 616). The account fundscalculation unit 306 may update the account funds database 317 toreflect an increased amount of funds for a particular user. In someexamples, where the account funds database 317 contains a non-zero valueamount of account funds for a particular user, the account fundscalculation unit 306 may increment this value by the output of theaccount funds equation, as calculated in block 606. The account fundscalculation unit 306 may send the updated account balance to the accountfunds processing unit 309 (block 618). In some embodiments, the accountfunds calculation unit 306 may also send the updated account balance toone or more third parties (e.g., insurance companies) at a third-partysystem 244. In some embodiments, the account funds calculation unit 306may be configured to limit the total amount of funds or a certain typeof funds (e.g., Superdollars, money-proxy, etc.) earned by the user overa period of time. For example, the account funds calculation unit 306may be configured to allow no more than 1000 Superdollars per calendaryear per user. In another example, the account funds calculation unit306 may be configured to allow no more than 100,000 Superdollars percalendar year for all users. As such, in some examples, the accountfunds calculation unit 306 may increment the total amount of funds or acertain type of funds (e.g., Superdollars, money-proxy, etc.) earned bythe user by an amount less than the output of the account funds equation(block 616).

In an alternate embodiment, the account funds calculation unit 306 maycalculate account funds for each set of user behaviors in the behaviorsdatabase 313. For example, the account funds calculation unit 306 maycalculate and maintain account funds for each third-party (e.g.,insurance company). For example, after one trip, a user may earn 450Superdollars based on user behaviors for Insurance Company A, but thesame user may earn 500 Superdollars based on user behaviors forInsurance Company B. As such, the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 may maintain the total account balance earned by auser from the perspective of each third-party (e.g., insurance company).

In some embodiments, the account funds calculation unit 306 may alsocalculate an amount of funds to provide to the user based on a user'sinteraction with the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202. For example, the account funds calculation unit 306 mayprovide account funds to a user for enrolling in a safe driving pointsprogram (e.g., creating a user account associated with the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202), enrolling in avehicle maintenance savings account program (e.g., creating a useraccount associated with the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202), enrolling in a vehicle telematics program (e.g.,creating a user account associated with the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202) and/or enrolling in a fuel rewardsprogram (e.g., creating a user account associated with the vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202). In other examples,the account funds calculation unit 306 may provide account funds to auser for further engaging with the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202, such as, taking a survey, emailing a promotioncode, or learning about safe driving (e.g., participating in a safedriving tutorial, watching a safe driving video, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 7, a flowchart of example method steps fordetermining a safe driving reward based on safe driving points is shown.The safe driving reward calculation unit 308 may receive a number ofsafe driving points earned by a user to determine whether or not toissue a safe driving reward, and if so, to determine the amount of thesafe driving reward. For example, the safe driving reward calculationunit 308 may receive a total of safe driving points earned by a userfrom the safe driving points calculation unit 307 (block 702).

The safe driving reward calculation unit 308 may compare the total safedriving points to one or more reward thresholds (block 704). Where theuser does not meet or exceed at least one rewards threshold, the safedriving reward calculation unit 308 may determine not to issue a safedriving reward (block 708). If the total safe driving points exceeds atleast one rewards threshold, the safe driving reward calculation unit308 may determine to provide a safe driving reward. In some embodiments,the safe driving reward calculation unit 308 may define one rewardthreshold (e.g., 500 safe driving points), whereby users with total safedriving points at or above the reward threshold receive rewards. Inother embodiments, the safe driving reward calculation unit 308 maydefine more than one reward threshold (e.g., 500 safe driving points,1000 safe driving points, 2000 safe driving points, etc.), so as tocreate a tiered system of rewards. In such examples, the safe drivingreward calculation unit 308 may reward a user having between 500 and 999total safe driving points differently from a user having 1000 safedriving points or more. For example, the safe driving reward calculationunit 308 may issue a fewer number of rewards to a user having between500 and 999 total safe driving points as compared to a user having 1000safe driving points or more. Additionally or alternatively, the safedriving reward calculation unit 308 may issue rewards of a higher amountfor a user having 1000 safe driving points or more as compared to a userhaving between 500 and 1000 safe driving points. In some examples, thesafe driving reward calculation unit 308 may use a uniform set of rewardthresholds for all users. In other examples, the safe driving rewardcalculation unit 308 may use reward thresholds as specified by differentthird-parties (e.g., insurance companies). For example, the safe drivingreward calculation unit 308 may use one set of reward thresholds forInsurance Company A (e.g., 100 safe driving points, 200 safe drivingpoints, 300 safe driving points, etc.), and another set of rewardthresholds for Insurance Company B (e.g., 500 safe driving points, 1000safe driving points, 2000 safe driving points, etc.). In some examples,the sets of reward thresholds defined for the various third-parties(e.g., insurance companies) may overlap.

The safe driving reward may be a discount on goods and/or servicesavailable at a physical or online store. In other examples, the safedriving reward may be a discount on vehicular services, such as gas,towing services, vehicle maintenance, vehicle repair shops, roadsideassistance, and so forth. Types of discounts may include, but are notlimited to, a deduction of a dollar amount from a price of aproduct/service, a deduction of a dollar amount from an entire order, adeduction of a percentage from a price of a product/service, a deductionof a percentage from an entire order, etc.). In some examples, a safedriving reward may include a free ancillary product/service (e.g., freeitem from convenience store, free oil change, etc.). In yet otherexamples, the safe driving reward may be used to obtain fixed/guaranteedprices for gas, regardless of the current gas price. In such examples,the user may redeem gas at fixed/guaranteed prices for a predeterminedperiod of time or indefinitely. As such, the safe driving reward mayrepresent a cap on fuel prices for a predetermined period of time orindefinitely.

Where safe driving reward calculation unit 308 determines to provide asafe driving reward, the safe driving reward calculation unit 308 maydetermine a reward amount (block 710). In some examples, the amount ofthe safe driver reward may be uniform regardless of the total safedriving points (i.e., the exceeded rewards threshold). For instance, auser having total safe driving points greater than a first rewardsthreshold may receive the same safe driving reward as a user havingtotal safe driving points greater than a second rewards threshold, wherethe first rewards threshold is lower than the second rewards threshold.Thus, a user having total safe driving points greater than a secondrewards threshold may have previously received the same driving awardfor exceeding the first rewards threshold. In other examples, the amountof the safe driver reward may be based on the total safe driving points(i.e., the exceeded rewards threshold). For instance, a user having atotal safe driving points greater than a first rewards threshold mayreceive a safe driving reward of a lower amount than a user having totalsafe driving points greater than a second rewards threshold. Forembodiments where the safe driving reward is a fixed price on gas, thefixed price may, in some examples, be the same for all rewardsthresholds, and in other examples, may vary for each rewards thresholds.

The safe driving reward calculation unit 308 may issue a safe drivingreward to a user (block 712). The amount of the safe driving reward maycorrespond to the reward amount determined in block 710. The issued safedriving award may be stored in the safe driving rewards database 319. Asdescribed earlier, the safe driving reward may be represented in variousformats, such as a coupon code, a QR code, a barcode, account code, andso forth. The safe driving award may be marked as Unused, until it isredeemed by the user. The safe driving reward calculation unit 308 mayalso specify terms and conditions of use/redemption of a safe drivingreward. For example, the safe driving reward calculation unit 308 mayrestrict the usage of the safe driving reward by limiting the number oftimes it may be redeemed (e.g., safe driving reward may be redeemed anunlimited number of times, safe driving reward may only be redeemed onceper user, safe driving reward may be redeemed only one by any user, safedriving reward may not be redeemed along with other rewards/coupons,etc.). The safe driving reward calculation unit 308 may also restrictthe safe driving reward such that it is only redeemable for certainproducts and/or services, or at certain vehicle service centers. Thesafe driving reward calculation unit 308 may also restrict the durationthat the safe driving reward is valid by, for example, setting a begindate (drivers will not be able to redeem the safe driving reward priorto this date) and/or by setting an end date (users will not be able toredeem the safe driving reward after this date). It will be appreciatedthat the safe driving reward calculation unit 308 may be configured toother aspects of redeeming a safe driving reward. A user may view andredeem safe driving rewards through the mobile special-purpose computingdevice 212 (e.g., via a mobile application installed on the mobilespecial-purpose computing device 212), account card, key fob, or acombination thereof. FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary account card 1100.As seen in FIG. 10A, in certain embodiments, the front of the card mayinclude various account information, including the issuing accountmanager 1102, the user name 1104, the account number 1106 and theexpiration date 1106. As seen in FIG. 10B, in certain embodiments, theback of the card may include a space 1122 where particular accountrestrictions (e.g, spending and/or transfer restrictions) may be listed.Such account restrictions may additionally or alternatively be stored inthe magnetic strip 1124 of the card 1100. Various other accountinformation may also be stored in the magnetic strip 1124 of the card1100. For instance, at least a portion of the data store 311 may becontained in the magnetic strip 1124 of the card 1100.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a flowchart of example method steps fordetermining Superdollars based on account funds is shown. The accountfunds processing unit 309 may receive a total account balance deposited,earned and/or accumulated by a user to determine whether or not to issueSuperdollars, and if so, to determine the amount of Superdollars. Forexample, the account funds processing unit 309 may receive a totalaccount balance deposited, earned and/or accumulated by a user from theaccount funds calculation unit 306 (block 802).

The account funds processing unit 309 may compare the total accountbalance to one or more balance thresholds (block 804). Where the userdoes not meet or exceed at least one balance threshold, the accountfunds processing unit 309 may determine not to issue Superdollars (block808). If the total account balance exceeds at least one balancethreshold, the account funds processing unit 309 may determine toprovide Superdollars. In some embodiments, the account funds processingunit 309 may define one balance threshold (e.g., $500), whereby userswith a total account balance at or above the balance threshold receiveSuperdollars. In other embodiments, the account funds processing unit309 may define more than one balance threshold (e.g., $500, $1000,$2000, $5000, $10000, etc.), so as to create a tiered system. In suchexamples, the account funds processing unit 309 may reward a user havingan account balance between $500 and $999 differently from a user havingan account balance of $1000 or more. For example, the account fundsprocessing unit 309 may issue a fewer number of Superdollars to a userhaving an account balance between $500 and $999 as compared to a userhaving an account balance of $1000 or more. Additionally oralternatively, the account funds processing unit 309 may issueSuperdollars of a higher amount for a user having an account balance of$1000 or more as compared to a user having an account balance between$500 and $1000. In some examples, the account funds processing unit 309may use a uniform set of account thresholds for all users. In otherexamples, the account funds processing unit 309 may use accountthresholds as specified by different third-parties (e.g., insurancecompanies). For example, the account funds processing unit 309 may useone set of account thresholds for Insurance Company A (e.g., $100, $200,$300, etc.), and another set of account thresholds for Insurance CompanyB (e.g., $500, $1000, $2000, etc.). In some examples, the sets ofaccount thresholds defined for the various third parties (e.g.,insurance companies) may overlap.

The Superdollars may be redeemed for goods and/or services (e.g., gas,towing services, vehicle maintenance, vehicle repair shops, roadsideassistance, and so forth) available at a physical and/or online store.In certain instances, if Superdollars are used to purchase goods and/orservices, a discount may be applied. Types of discounts may include, butare not limited to, a deduction of a dollar amount from a price of aproduct/service, a deduction of a dollar amount from an entire order, adeduction of a percentage from a price of a product/service, a deductionof a percentage from an entire order, etc.). In some examples,redemption of Superdollars may result in a free ancillaryproduct/service (e.g., free item from convenience store, free oilchange, etc.). In yet other examples, the Superdollars may be used toobtain fixed/guaranteed prices for gas, regardless of the current gasprice. In such examples, the user may redeem gas at fixed/guaranteedprices for a predetermined period of time or indefinitely. As such, theSuperdollars may represent a cap on fuel prices for a predeterminedperiod of time or indefinitely.

Where the account funds processing unit 309 determines to provideSuperdollars, the account funds processing unit 309 may determine aSuperdollars amount (block 810). In some examples, the amount ofSuperdollars may be uniform regardless of the account balance (e.g., theexceeded account threshold). For instance, a user having an accountbalance greater than a first account threshold may receive the sameSuperdollars as a user having an account balance greater than a secondaccount threshold, where the first account threshold is lower than thesecond account threshold. Thus, a user having an account balance greaterthan a second account threshold may have previously received the sameSuperdollars for exceeding the first account threshold. In otherexamples, the amount of Superdollars may be based on the account balance(i.e., the exceeded account threshold). For instance, a user having anaccount balance greater than a first account threshold may receiveSuperdollars of a lower amount than a user having an account balancegreater than a second account threshold. For embodiments where theSuperdollars may be redeemed for a fixed price on gas, the fixed pricemay, in some examples, be the same for all account thresholds, and inother examples, may vary for each account threshold.

The account funds processing unit 309 may issue Superdollars to a user(block 812). The amount of Superdollars may correspond to theSuperdollars amount determined in block 810. The issued Superdollars maybe stored in the account funds database 317. As described earlier,Superdollars may be represented in various formats, such as money, amoney-proxy, a coupon code, a QR code, a barcode, account code, and soforth. The Superdollars may be marked as Unused until redeemed by theuser. The account funds processing unit 309 may also specify terms andconditions of use/redemption of Superdollars. For example, the accountfunds processing unit 309 may restrict the usage of Superdollars bylimiting the number of times they may be redeemed (e.g., Superdollarsmay be redeemed an unlimited number of times, Superdollars may only beredeemed once per user, Superdollars may be redeemed only once by anyuser, Superdollars may not be redeemed along with other rewards/coupons,etc.). The account funds processing unit 309 may also restrict theSuperdollars such that they may be only redeemable for certain productsand/or services, or at certain vehicle service centers. account fundsprocessing unit 309 may also restrict the duration that the Superdollarsmay be valid by, for example, setting a begin date (users will not beable to redeem the Superdollars prior to this date) and/or by setting anend date (users will not be able to redeem the Superdollars after thisdate). It will be appreciated that the account funds processing unit 309may be configured to other aspects of redeeming Superdollars. A user mayview and redeem Superdollars through the mobile special-purposecomputing device 212 (e.g., via a mobile application installed on themobile special-purpose computing device 212), account card 1100, keyfob, or a combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a flowchart of example method steps forredeeming and processing account funds and/or a safe driving reward isshown. The vehicle service system 242 may receive a safe driving rewardand/or account funds as an input (block 902). In some examples, the usermay present the safe driving reward and/or account funds to the vehicleservice system 242 through a wireless network. In other examples, theuser may present the safe driving reward and/or account funds to thevehicle service system 242 by interacting with an input deviceconfigured to operate in conjunction with the vehicle service system242. For example, the user may present the present the safe drivingreward and/or account funds to the vehicle service system 242 via amobile special-purpose computing device 212. Additionally oralternatively, the user may present a printed version of the safedriving reward and/or account funds to the vehicle service system 242.The vehicle service system 242 may be equipped with one or more inputdevices to receive the safe driving reward and/or account funds from auser. For example, where the safe driving reward is represented as a QRcode, the vehicle service system 242 may be equipped with a QR codescanner. Where the safe driving reward and/or account funds arerepresented as a barcode, the vehicle service system 242 may be equippedwith a barcode scanner. Where the safe driving reward and/or accountfunds are represented as an alphanumeric coupon code, the vehicleservice system 242 may be equipped with a keyboard, or similar device.Additionally or alternatively, the vehicle service system 242 may beequipped with an optical character recognition (OCR) device. It will beappreciated that the vehicle service system 242 may be equipped withadditional or alternative input devices capable of receiving a safedriving reward and/or account funds from the user.

Upon receiving the safe driving reward and/or account funds, the vehicleservice system 242 may process the safe driving reward and/or accountfunds (block 904). For example, the vehicle service system 242 mayvalidate the safe driving reward and/or account funds based on its termand conditions, and/or other restrictions (e.g, spending and/or transferrestrictions particular to the vehicle maintenance savings account). Forexample, the vehicle service system 242 may validate whether the begindate of the safe driving reward is before the current date and/or theend date of the safe driving reward is after the current date. Inanother example, the vehicle service system 242 may verify that serviceto which the vehicle service system 242 is associated (e.g., gasstation, vehicle maintenance, vehicle repair, roadside assistance, etc.)is not restricted by the safe driving reward and/or account funds.Further, the vehicle service system 242 may determine whether the safedriving reward and/or account funds has not reached its limit on thenumber of times it may be redeemed. As such, the vehicle service system242 may be in communication with the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 to determine a current status (e.g., Unused, Used,Expired), or a limit on the number of times the safe driving rewardand/or account funds has been redeemed by a particular user.

Where the vehicle service system 242 determines that the redemption of asafe driving reward and/or account funds meets the specified terms andconditions or restrictions (e.g, spending and/or transfer restrictionsparticular to the vehicle maintenance savings account), the vehicleservice system 242 may adjust the price of the product/service based onthe discount specified by the safe driving reward and/or account funds(block 906). For example, where the safe driving reward and/or accountfunds specify deducting a dollar amount or percentage from the product,service, or order, the vehicle service system 242 may adjust the priceof the product/service order to reflect the deduction. In anotherexample, where the safe driving reward and/or account funds specify afixed price of gas at a gas station, the vehicle service system maycalculate the price of the product/service based on the specified fixedprice, rather than the current market price. As such, a user may be ableto secure fixed (i.e. lower) gas prices by engaging in safe drivingbehaviors. Further, where the safe driving reward and/or account fundsmay be used more than once by a user, a user may be able to obtain gasat a fixed price for an extended period of time. Additionally oralternatively, where the vehicle service system 242 determines that theredemption of a safe driving reward and/or account funds meets thespecified terms and conditions or restrictions (e.g, spending and/ortransfer restrictions particular to the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount), the vehicle service system 242 may deposit a funds (e.g.,money, money proxy, Superdollars, etc.) amount or percentage of thepurchase price into the vehicle maintenance savings account based on,for example, the amount or percentage specified by the account funds usedatabase 320 and/or the behaviors database 313.

The vehicle service system 242 may render the product/service, orinstruct the service-providing machine (e.g., gas pump, vehicle repairfacility, vehicle maintenance facility, roadside assistance system,towing service system, physical or online store, etc.) to render theproduct/service (block 808). For example, where the service providingmachine is a gas pump, the vehicle service system 242 may instruct thegas pump to dispense a gas. In another example, where the serviceproviding machine is a vehicle repair facility, the vehicle servicesystem 242 may instruct the vehicle repair facility to perform a repair.In yet another example, where the service providing machine is aphysical or online store, the vehicle service system 242 may instructthe special-purpose computing device associated with the store todispense a product. In an alternate embodiment, the vehicle servicesystem 242 may render the product/service prior to, contemporaneouslywith, or after adjusting the price of the product/service.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a flowchart of example steps for opening avehicle maintenance savings account, depositing funds into the accountand using the funds is shown. A user may open a vehicle maintenancesavings account (block 1000) online, via a mobile application downloadedand/or running on a user mobile device, at a facility of the accountmanager, or the like. The account may be managed by an insurance companyor an external non-insurance hosting entity (e.g., a bank, originalequipment manufacturer (OEM), car dealership, etc.). The vehiclemaintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may receive userinformation from the user (e.g., username and password, vehicleidentification, mobile device identification, vehicle registrationinformation, account beneficiary information, user name, age, contactinformation, social media account identification information, bankaccount information, credit card information, social security number,driver's license number, state identification number, passport number,driver score, etc.), and may store such information in the userinformation database 312. In some examples, the user informationdatabase 312 may also store the user's affiliation with one or moreinsurance companies. Upon opening the account, the user may be given avehicle maintenance savings account number, which may be stored in theuser information database 312.

A user may then deposit funds into the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount (block 1001), where they will be saved for later use to pay forthe costs of maintaining and/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs ofmaintenance and operation associated with ownership, leasing or rentinga vehicle) and/or driver safety. According to certain aspects, a usermay pre-designate a monthly and/or periodic amount that will bewithdrawn from a bank account of the user (e.g., checking and/or savingsaccount, money market account, etc.) and placed into the vehiclemaintenance savings account. In some aspects, such monthly and/orperiodic amount is paid simultaneously with an insurance premium paymentand placed into the vehicle maintenance savings account. Additionally oralternatively, a user may elect to have a portion of a pay check orother regular deposit directed to the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount. In certain aspects, the balance of the vehicle maintenancesavings account includes pre-tax funds. As discussed above, the accountfunds database 317 may enable the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 to maintain the amount of account funds deposited,earned and/or accumulated by a user.

In addition or in the alternative to user designations, the accountbalance may grow or increase via employer designations, insurancecompany designations, family/friend designations, and/or transfers fromanother user's vehicle maintenance savings account (block 1002). Incertain embodiments, the account manager designates funds to the vehiclemaintenance savings account based on certain user behavior (e.g., theuser's use of safety programs, use of particular authorized, certifiedor preferred services, shops or providers, referral of friends/family,use of social media to recommend the vehicle maintenance savings accountprogram, safe driving, accumulation of good driver rewards checks, useof safe driver/vehicle data mobile applications, purchase of particularinsurance products, use of particular insurance programs/services,purchase of particular safety products, purchase of fuel at a particularstation, participation in a rewards program of a particular fuel/oilstation/company, carpooling, being a passenger (e.g., not driving),using public transportation, renewing insurance, using the vehiclemaintenance savings account during a particular time period, joining avehicle maintenance savings account funds pool, adding additionalvehicles to the account, providing information regarding vehicle repairor maintenance even when a warranty covers the cost, participating in aprogram that allows for provider/service recommendations to be providedto the user, maintaining/meeting a regular schedule of maintenance,driving a certain number of miles, purchasing another type of insurancepolicy, using a program or mobile application to book vehicle repair andmaintenance appointments, being claim free and accident free for aparticular period of time, etc.). According to various embodiments theaccount manager may deposit an amount of funds (e.g., money, moneyproxy, Superdollars, etc.) or percentage of a purchase price into thevehicle maintenance savings account based on, for example, the amount orpercentage specified by the account funds use database 320 and/or thebehaviors database 313. Subject to any applicable regulations, users maybe provided rebates and/or account funds for engaging in certain userbehaviors, with the rebates being deposited in the vehicle maintenancesavings account. According to various aspects, the account balance growsor increases via accumulation of interest. In certain aspects, theaccount balance may accumulate interest at a guaranteed interest rateabove a prime interest rate (e.g., 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%,etc.). The account balance, including interest earned, may roll overannually. As discussed above, the account funds database 317 may enablethe vehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 tomaintain the amount of account funds deposited, earned and/oraccumulated by a user. The behaviors database 313, including forexample, one or more of the safe driving behaviors database 314,purchase behaviors database 315 and account use behaviors database 316,may store information associated with the behaviors (e.g., safe drivingbehaviors, purchase behaviors, account use behaviors, etc.) required toearn account funds (e.g., balance-affecting behaviors/events).

The user may use the vehicle maintenance savings account funds to payfor the costs of maintaining and/or operating a vehicle (e.g., costs ofmaintenance and operation associated with ownership, leasing or rentinga vehicle) and/or driver safety. In certain embodiments, the accountfunds use database 320 may enable the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 to restrict use of the account funds topayment of the costs of maintaining and/or operating a vehicle and/ordriver safety (block 1003). For instance, a balance of the account maybe restricted to use for payment for driver's education, driver's safetycourses, attention improvement/maintenance courses, visual acuityimprovement/maintenance courses, vehicle maintenance, repair,inspections, registration, check-ups, replacement parts, emissionstesting, government stickers, taxes, license plates, insurance premiums,insurance deductibles, safety products, sensors/monitors, disposal fees,new vehicles of a certain type, etc. According to various embodiments,the account funds use database 320 may enable the vehicle maintenancesavings account evaluation system 202 to place restrictions (e.g,spending and/or transfer restrictions) on the use of account funds. Thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 may allow auser to spend and/or transfer account funds based on at least theinformation stored in the account funds use database 320, account fundsdatabase 317 and one or more of the behaviors database 313, safe drivingbehaviors database 314, purchase behaviors database 315, and account usebehaviors database 316. The account funds use database 320 may, forinstance, enable the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202 to restrict use of the account funds to purchases ofparticular products (e.g., certain safety products, vehicle parts,etc.), particular vendors and/or particular transfers (e.g., to avehicle maintenance savings account funds pool). In some aspects, thebalance of the account may be used to pay for tax-deductible costs ofmeeting certain safety and environmental standards. According to certainembodiments, the manager of the account is an insurance company, theuser does not have an insurance policy with the insurance company, andthe insurance company processes payments to the insurance company of theuser using the vehicle maintenance savings account of the user. If thevehicle maintenance savings account evaluation system 202 determinesthat a particular account use is not restricted based on at least theinformation stored in the account funds use database 320, account fundsdatabase 317 and one or more of the behaviors database 313, safe drivingbehaviors database 314, purchase behaviors database 315, and account usebehaviors database 316, the particular account use will be allowed(block 1005). On the other hand, if the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount evaluation system 202 determines that a particular account useis restricted based on the information stored in the account funds usedatabase 320, account funds database 317 and one or more of thebehaviors database 313, safe driving behaviors database 314, purchasebehaviors database 315, and account use behaviors database 316, theparticular account use will be denied.

In certain aspects, the account may achieve a negative balance when usedto pay for the costs of maintaining and/or operating a vehicle (e.g.,costs of maintenance and operation associated with ownership, leasing orrenting a vehicle) and/or driver safety, essentially allowing themanager of the account or entity hosting or facilitating the account toprovide a loan to the user for costs of maintaining and/or operating avehicle and driver safety. The vehicle maintenance savings accountbalance may then grow via the various avenues discussed herein, allowingthe user to pay off the loan. In certain embodiments, the accountmanager or entity hosting or facilitating the account may first requirea user to join a vehicle maintenance savings account funds pool andattempt to satisfy the particular payment before the account manager orentity hosting or facilitating the account will provide a loan to theuser. In some embodiments, the account manager or entity hosting orfacilitating the account may limit the ability of the account to achievea negative balance based on user behavior. For instance, if a userrepeatedly engages in undesirable user behaviors, the account manager orentity hosting or facilitating the account may not allow the user'svehicle maintenance savings account achieve a negative balance (e.g.,indefinitely or for a particular period of time). Alternatively oradditionally, the account manager or entity hosting or facilitating theaccount may limit the loan amount (e.g., to purchases less than $1,000,less than $500, etc.) and/or use (e.g., to a particular type of purchaseand/or service, particular merchant and/or service provider, etc.).According to various embodiments, users may transfer funds directly toanother user (and/or the vehicle maintenance savings account of anotheruser) in need of funds for the costs of vehicle possession and/or driversafety and/or to a vehicle maintenance savings account funds pool (e.g.,a separate vehicle maintenance savings account having some or all of thefeatures of a vehicle maintenance savings account detailed herein whichaccumulates funds that may be used by any of the users participating inthe funds pool to pay for the costs of vehicle possession and/or driversafety). For instance, User A may not have enough funds in his vehiclemaintenance savings account to pay for a particular cost of vehiclepossession and/or driver safety (e.g., new brakes, a tire rotation,etc.). In some examples, other users (e.g., User B and/or User C) maydirectly pay for User A's particular cost of vehicle possession and/ordriver safety directly from their vehicle maintenance savings account.In other examples, User A may still use his vehicle maintenance savingsaccount to pay for the cost, essentially allowing the manager of theaccount or entity hosting or facilitating the account to provide User Aa loan for such cost. In further examples, Users A, B and C all join avehicle maintenance savings account funds pool, each contributing fundsto such, and User A may pay for User A's particular cost of vehiclepossession and/or driver safety directly from their vehicle maintenancesavings account funds pool. In yet other examples, other users (e.g.,User B and/or User C) may transfer funds from their respective vehiclemaintenance savings account(s) into User A's vehicle maintenance savingsaccount, and User A may then pay for the cost using his vehiclemaintenance savings account.

As described in this disclosure, the vehicle maintenance savings accountevaluation system 202 encourages safe driving and vehicle maintenance byproviding rewards and/or account funds for engaging in safe drivingbehaviors. In an effort to publicly recognize safe driving, the rewardsand/or account funds may be provided to both insurance customers andnon-insurance customers. In an example embodiment, a driver's drivingperformance, number of account funds, safe driving points and/or rewardsearned may be communicated to one or more insurance companies. Theinsurance companies may subsequently use this information to provideadditional rewards and benefits to insurance customers and/ornon-insurance customers. It will be appreciated that the rewards andbenefits offered by the vehicle maintenance savings account evaluationsystem 202 may be subject to any applicable regulations (e.g. insuranceregulations). In some examples, the additional rewards and benefits maybe associated with new or existing insurance policies. For example, theinsurance companies may offer reduced premiums or deductibles onexisting insurance policies (e.g., for family or friends of the driver),where such reductions may escalate as the driver earns more safe drivingpoints or rewards. In another example, the insurance companies mayguarantee insurance or terms (e.g., premiums or deductibles) of aninsurance policy for non-insurance customers enrolled and/orparticipating in the vehicle maintenance savings account acquisitionsystem 100. It will be appreciated that the collection of driving datafor insurance and non-insurance customers may advantageously allowinsurance companies to offer more accurate rates for new and existingcustomers.

The various embodiments are not to be limited in scope by the specificembodiments disclosed in the examples. While the disclosure has beendescribed with respect to specific examples including presentlyillustrative modes of carrying out the disclosure, a person havingordinary skill in the art, after review of the entirety disclosedherein, will appreciate that there are numerous variations andpermutations of the above-described systems, methods and techniques thatfall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Although certain system components are used to illustrate certainaspects, the various embodiments are suitable for accumulating andmaintaining money in a vehicle maintenance savings account, using any ofthe system components disclosed herein. With the benefit of the presentdisclosure, one skilled in the art will recognize that variousparameters may need to be adjusted to compensate for the use of adifferent system component.

Where systems are described herein as having, including, or comprisingspecific components, or where processes are described herein as having,including, or comprising specific process steps, it is contemplated thatthe systems of the various embodiments can also consist essentially of,or consist of, the recited components, and that the processes of thevarious embodiments also consist essentially of, or consist of, therecited process steps.

Where a range of values is provided, each intervening value, to thetenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any otherstated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed withinthe disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges mayindependently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassedwithin the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in thestated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits,ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are alsoincluded in the disclosure. For example, a numerical range of “1 to 5”should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited valuesof 1 and 5, but also individual values and sub-ranges within theindicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individualvalues such as 2, 3, 4, etc. and sub-ranges such as from 1 to 3, from 2to 4, from 3-5, etc. The listing of exemplary values or ranges is not adisclaimer of other values or ranges between and including the upper andlower limits of a given range.

It is noted that, as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claimsmay be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statementis intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusiveterminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with therecitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation.

Each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein hasdiscrete components and features which may be readily separated from orcombined with the features of any of the other several embodimentswithout departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Anyrecited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or inany other order which is logically possible.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a telematics device insignal communication with at least one processor; a plurality of vehiclesensors in communication with the telematics device; the at least oneprocessor; an electronic communication interface in signal communicationwith an electronic communication network; and a memory storingcomputer-readable instructions, that when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the system to: execute an application configured todetect telematics data by the telematics device; initiate acommunication session with the telematics device; receive, in real-timeand via the initiated communication session, the telematics dataincluding data received from the plurality of vehicle sensors, thetelematics data including a plurality of driving events, each drivingevent including at least two metrics based on at least one of: speed,acceleration, braking and turning; determine whether the at least twometrics match predefined criteria for a safe driving behavior;responsive to determining that the at least two metrics match predefinedcriteria for the safe driving behavior, identify an amount of funds tobe added to a balance of funds in a vehicle maintenance savings accountassociated with a first user; increase the balance of funds in thevehicle maintenance savings account associated with the first user bythe identified amount of funds; receive, at the electronic communicationinterface via the electronic communication network, a first electroniccommunication indicating that the amount has been added to the balanceof the vehicle maintenance savings account associated with the firstuser; receive, at the electronic communication interface via theelectronic communication network, transaction data related to at leastone transaction to be made by the first user using at least a portion ofthe balance of the vehicle maintenance savings account, wherein thetransaction data includes a cost associated with the at least onetransaction and an identification of what is being purchased; access,via the electronic communication network, a set of vehicle maintenancesavings account spending restrictions, wherein the spending restrictionslimit expenditure of the balance of the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount to expenses related to costs of vehicle possession, vehicleoperation, vehicle maintenance and driver safety; determine whether atleast a portion of the balance of the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount is eligible to be used to fund the at least one transactionbased, at least in part, on a comparison, via the at least oneprocessor, of the transaction data to the spending restrictions; andresponsive to a determining that the at least a portion of the balanceof the vehicle maintenance savings account is eligible to be used tofund the at least one transaction, initiate payment, via the at leastone processor, of the cost of the at least one transaction using thefunds in the vehicle maintenance savings account.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein the costs of vehicle possession and driver safety are coursesor products selected from the group consisting of driver's education,driver's safety, attention improvement, attention maintenance, visualacuity improvement, visual acuity maintenance, and combinations thereof.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the costs of vehicle possession anddriver safety, with respect to a vehicle, are selected from the groupconsisting of maintenance, repair, inspections, registration, check-ups,replacement parts, roadside assistance, emissions testing, governmentstickers, taxes, license plates, insurance premiums, insurancedeductibles, safety products, sensors, monitors, disposal fees,replacements, and combinations thereof.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein payment initiation causes the balance of the vehicle maintenancesavings account to become negative.
 5. The system of claim 1, whereinthe vehicle maintenance savings account is managed by an insurancecompany or an external non-insurance hosting entity.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the vehicle maintenance savings account is managed by afirst insurance company and the first user does not have an insurancepolicy with the first insurance company.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein the first user has an insurance policy with a second insurancecompany different from the first insurance company; the at least onetransaction comprises payment of an insurance premium or insurancedeductible of the second insurance company; and the first insurancecompany, responsive to the determination that at least a portion of thebalance of the vehicle maintenance savings account is eligible to beused to fund the at least one transaction, initiates payment, via the atleast one processor, of the cost of the at least one transaction fromthe vehicle maintenance savings account to the second insurance company.8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transaction comprisestransfer of at least a portion of the balance of the vehicle maintenancesavings account to a vehicle maintenance savings account of a seconduser, and the expenses related to costs of vehicle possession and driversafety are with respect to the second user.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor,further cause the system to: access, via the electronic communicationnetwork, a set of balance-affecting events; determine, via the at leastone processor, whether or not the at least one transaction qualifies asat least one balance-affecting event, at least in part, on a comparison,via the at least one processor, of the transaction data to the set ofbalance-affecting events; responsive to a determination that the atleast one transaction qualifies as at least one balance-affecting event,calculate, via the at least one processor, a first balance increaseamount to be applied to the balance of the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount; and increment, via the at least one processor, the balance ofthe vehicle maintenance savings account by the first balance increaseamount.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of balance-affectingevents comprises purchase of i) certified, preferred or authorizedproducts; or ii) services from certified, preferred or authorizedvendors, merchants or providers.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein thefirst balance increase amount is a percentage of the cost of the atleast one transaction.
 12. A system comprising: at least one processor;an electronic communication interface in signal communication with anelectronic communication network; and a memory storing computer-readableinstructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, causethe system to: initiate communication with a plurality of sensorsassociated with a vehicle of a first user; receive, from the pluralityof sensors associated with a vehicle of a first user, driving data ofthe first user, the driving data including driving data metrics based atleast one of: speed, acceleration, braking and turning; access, via theelectronic communication network, a set of user driving behaviors;determine, via the at least one processor, whether at least two metricsof the driving data of the first user correspond to at least one userdriving behavior of the set of user driving behaviors based, at least inpart, on a comparison, via the at least one processor, of the drivingdata of the first user to the set of user driving behaviors; responsiveto a determination that the at least two metrics of the driving data ofthe first user correspond to the at least one user driving behavior,calculate, via the at least one processor, an amount to increase abalance of an account based on the at least two metrics of the drivingdata of the first user corresponding to the at least one user drivingbehavior; and increase, via the at least one processor, a balance of avehicle maintenance savings account associated with the first user bythe calculated amount.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein initiatingpayment, via the at least one processor, of the cost of the at least onetransaction using the funds in the vehicle maintenance savings accountfurther includes generating a payment device including a scannable code.14. The system of claim 13, wherein the scannable code is at least oneof a bar code and a quick response (QR) code.
 15. The system of claim 1,wherein the at least one transaction is a fuel purchase, and whereininitiating payment, via the at least one processor, of the cost of theat least one transaction using the funds in the vehicle maintenancesavings account further includes transmitting an instruction to a fueldispensing device to dispense fuel.
 16. One or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media storing computer executable instructions that,when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing device to:execute an application configured to detect telematics data by atelematics device; initiate a communication session with the telematicsdevice; receive, in real-time and via the initiated communicationsession, the telematics data including data received from a plurality ofvehicle sensors, the telematics data including a plurality of drivingevents, each driving event including at least two metrics based on atleast one of: speed, acceleration, braking and turning; determinewhether the at least two metrics match predefined criteria for a safedriving behavior; responsive to determining that the at least twometrics match predefined criteria for the safe driving behavior,identify an amount of funds to be added to a balance of funds in avehicle maintenance savings account associated with a first user;increase the balance of funds in the vehicle maintenance savings accountassociated with the first user by the identified amount of funds;receive, at an electronic communication interface via an electroniccommunication network, a first electronic communication indicating thatthe amount has been added to the balance of the vehicle maintenancesavings account associated with the first user; receive, at theelectronic communication interface via the electronic communicationnetwork, transaction data related to at least one transaction to be madeby the first user using at least a portion of the balance of the vehiclemaintenance savings account, wherein the transaction data includes acost associated with the at least one transaction and an identificationof what is being purchased; access, via the electronic communicationnetwork, a set of vehicle maintenance savings account spendingrestrictions, wherein the spending restrictions limit expenditure of thebalance of the vehicle maintenance savings account to expenses relatedto costs of vehicle possession, vehicle operation, vehicle maintenanceand driver safety; determine whether at least a portion of the balanceof the vehicle maintenance savings account is eligible to be used tofund the at least one transaction based, at least in part, on acomparison, via the at least one processor, of the transaction data tothe spending restrictions; and responsive to a determining that the atleast a portion of the balance of the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount is eligible to be used to fund the at least one transaction,initiate payment, via the at least one processor, of the cost of the atleast one transaction using the funds in the vehicle maintenance savingsaccount.
 17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media ofclaim 16, wherein the at least one transaction is a fuel purchase, andwherein initiating payment, via the at least one processor, of the costof the at least one transaction using the funds in the vehiclemaintenance savings account further includes transmitting an instructionto a fuel dispensing device to dispense fuel.
 18. The system of claim 1,wherein identifying an amount of funds to be added to a balance of fundsin a vehicle maintenance savings account associated with a first userfurther includes: identifying a number of points associated with thesafe driving behavior; and converting, based on a predeterminedconversion rate, the number of points to the amount of funds.